This article examines the interaction between family and migratory processes among South American immigrants to Spain, for the five largest migratory groups: Argentines, Bolivians, Colombians, Ecuadorians and Peruvians. The present study continues a research line on the phenomenon of family separation and long-distance parenthood as a result of migration, focusing on the process of family reunification. Specifically, based on representative data from the National Survey of Immigrants in Spain 2007, it describes patterns of migration as well as immigrant mothers and their children reunification in Spain. It describes migration sequences and the incidence of reunification for each migratory group. Furthermore, it analyzes the relevance of social, family and migratory traits in family reunification probabilities. The results show that, with the exception of Argentine mothers, separation between mothers and children is very frequent, and that reunification depended on both by migration policy consideration as well as economic and family factors.

South American migration to spain Family and migration international migration

family structure Spain immigration policy South America socioeconomic status Argentinidae population migration social behavior immigrant population