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Refugee Migration Histories in a Meatpacking Town: Blurring the Line Between Primary and Secondary Migration

Author

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  • Kyle Anne Nelson

    (University of Northern Colorado)

  • Christine Marston

    (University of Northern Colorado)

Abstract

There is substantial movement of US refugee populations originating from Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world across all parts of the country, beyond large metropolitan areas and traditional immigration hubs. Counter to expectations that refugees would remain in a given resettlement location for a period of integration and support, many non-resettlement communities have attracted newcomer refugees. The dynamics of early movement of refugees blurs the line between initial resettlement and secondary migration. To study the timing and motivations for refugee secondary migration, we conducted structured quantitative interviews with 92 refugees in Greeley, Colorado. Like many other small agricultural cities across the USA (Marston et al. International Journal of Migration and Residential Mobility, 1(3), 253–268, 2016; Broadway Rural Sociology, 72(4), 560–582, 2007), Greeley has experienced an influx of refugees due to a shift in the meatpacking labor market from immigrant to refugee labor. This study adds to prior research documenting refugee secondary migration (e.g., Marks 2014; Hume and Hardwick Geographical Review, 95(2), 189–209, 2005; Weine et al. Family Process, 50(1), 27–46, 2011) with a larger study sample focused on gathering uniform accounts of refugee migration histories. Our data show that many refugees arrived in Greeley very soon after initial resettlement. Employment and social networks were a draw for most interviewees to move to Greeley; however, many who came for work had not yet found employment or were unemployed after leaving jobs at the meatpacking plant. These and other findings suggest the importance of research on refugee mobility. In an ever-globalizing world, the blurred line between primary and secondary migration necessitates preparation among American communities to maximize refugee integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyle Anne Nelson & Christine Marston, 2020. "Refugee Migration Histories in a Meatpacking Town: Blurring the Line Between Primary and Secondary Migration," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 77-91, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:21:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s12134-019-00694-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-019-00694-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kalena E. Cortes, 2004. "Are Refugees Different from Economic Immigrants? Some Empirical Evidence on the Heterogeneity of Immigrant Groups in the United States," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 86(2), pages 465-480, May.
    2. Bose, Pablo S., 2014. "Refugees in Vermont: mobility and acculturation in a new immigrant destination," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 151-159.
    3. Josphine Chaumba, 2016. "Social Capital and Employment Outcomes of Zimbabwean Immigrants in the United States," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 487-505, May.
    4. Jeffrey Bloem & Scott Loveridge, 2018. "The Costs of Secondary Migration: Perspectives from Local Voluntary Agencies in the USA," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 233-251, May.
    5. Chenoa Flippen, 2014. "U.S. internal Migration and Occupational Attainment: Assessing Absolute and Relative Outcomes by Region and Race," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(1), pages 31-61, February.
    6. Cortes, Kalena E., 2004. "Are Refugees Different from Economic Immigrants? Some Empirical Evidence on the Heterogeneity of Immigrant Groups in the United States," IZA Discussion Papers 1063, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    Cited by:

    1. Lillian Mwanri & Leticia Anderson & Kathomi Gatwiri, 2021. "Telling Our Stories: Resilience during Resettlement for African Skilled Migrants in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-15, April.

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