Where Do Immigrant Children Come From and Why?

Abstract

The early 21st century continues the trend from the later 20th century: the first-generation immigrant children who move to Slovenia most often come from the states established after the disintegration of former Yugoslavia – from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, as well as from Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro. There are few arrivals from other states and continents, such as Bulgaria, Ukraine, or the United States of America. This article presents certain experiences that vary for each immigrant family, although they may hail from the same country. We quote some of the reasons for immigration as represented by the migrant children and parents themselves, comparing them to the findings of migrant theories. In 2011, semi-structured interviews with immigrant children were conducted in three Slovenian primary schools, and it was ascertained that most of them had come to Slovenia for the sake of family reunion.