This qualitative study on Sudanese refugees' lived experiences and perceptions of transnationalism involved face-to-face in-depth interviewing with a sample of 21 adult Southern Sudanese refugees who immigrated to San Diego in the 1990s. Through inductive analysis, the author sought an understanding of the nature and motivations of the refugees' transnational family ties. Findings reveal the relational and affective aspects of these ties and show how social conditions and cultural imperatives drive the motivations and meanings. The author discusses the transnational behaviors of the Southern Sudanese within the context of forced migration and the Sudanese cultural value system. The author also discusses the role of trust, access, and relational context as they relate to research among refugee communities. © 2009 The Author(s).

culture Transnationalism Refugees Family ties Sudanese

[No Keywords available]