Latinas Coping with the Deportation of their Partners

Abstract

In recent years, Latinos in the U.S. have been significantly impacted by increasing deportation rates. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Latina women whose partners were deported and how women managed these events guided by the Double ABCX Model of Family Stress. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were administered to a community sample of 8 Latina women from the greater D.C. metropolitan area whose partners had been deported between 1 and 10 years ago. All women had at least one child under the age of 18 years living in the home at the time of the deportation. Data were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Findings suggest that despite facing numerous stressors, women rely on various resources to overcome consequences resulting from their partner's deportation including religious resources, family and friends, and social service agencies. Positive and negative perceptions of the detention and deportation process emerged in the analysis. Women also engaged in various coping strategies to manage their experiences. While overall adaptation levels varied among participants, all participants reported positive and negative outcomes in the post-deportation period. Implications for clinical practice and intervention are discussed. Researchers also make recommendations for future research.