Why they left home again: Understanding repeat migration to the United States

Abstract

Abstract While sociologists of immigration have examined the mechanisms of both circulatory and return migration, there has been relatively little discussion of repeat migration. Repeat migration refers to a small, but significant segment of immigrants who made the decision to permanently migrate back to the adopted country, after attempts to resettle back in the home society failed. Drawing on in-depth interviews with highly skilled Indian repeat migrants in the United States, we attempt to fill this gap. Although these migrants possessed the economic, legal and cultural capacity to reintegrate back to their home society, our findings revealed that the value of these forms of capital was diminished upon going back home. In chronicling their labour market, cultural and emotional challenges, we also demonstrate the limits of transnational and return migration frameworks for explaining the phenomena of repeat migration.