Mexican Retornados: The Re-acculturation of Mexican Emigrants
Pérez-Padilla, María de la Luz

Abstract
This paper focuses on retornados (the returning migrants) in Jalisco, Mexico. One hundred thirty-eight men who returned at different times, between 1970 and 2011 were studied. These men work on their own land or for an agri-industry doing livestock-related work. Qualitative analysis was done from retornados′ surveys and employers′ interviews. Their words reveal a re-acculturation process. During their absence, they and their homes and families changed. Retornados experience re-acculturation stress because they have to adjust back into their families, work and community. While the family is a key resource to ease the re-acculturation, it also experiences challenges in the reintegration; therefore, intervention programs can be developed to help this process.

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