Migrant kinship networks – Legal and policy frameworks in shaping family life and belonging in a host country

Session conveners: Mirkka Danielsbacka mirkka.danielsbacka@utu.fi &
Johanna Lahtela johanna.lahtela@vaestoliitto.fi (MigScene consortium)

Session description

One of the most e=ective ways of integration and belonging is to strengthen immigrant ties to the host country through family connections. Family is the most important social institution and a key provider of (emotional) support. Immigrants often lack the support of extended family members in the host country as they typically immigrate either alone or with only their core family. What are the the likely trajectories of employment, productivity and family
formation accross di=erent immigrant groups and generations and how these are shaped by family relations, are questions that have not been answered yet.

What is the role of legal and policy frameworks in shaping family life, including family reunification policies, residence status, and access to social services? These structures can both enable and constrain the possibilities for maintaining family unity and fostering a sense of belonging.

We welcome submissions on topics such as migrant family relations, quantitative migration studies, transnational families, and family reunification policies.

The Population projections for migration scenarios, human capital development, and sustainable integration (MigScene) consortium explores how human capital, and productivity may evolve in Finland under various educational, migration, and integration scenarios. MigScene is funded by the Strategic Research Council (STN), established within the Research Council of Finland. MigScene is part of the Skills, Labour Supply and Migration in Future Finland (SKILLS) program.

Language of the session: English