Undocumented migration: Between the challenges of staying and the impossibility of returning.

Abstract

"Making the decision to migrate is a pivotal one in individuals' lives, given the changes that may affect them. The process of migration is not merely the movement of people from one geographical area to another; rather, it encompasses the transition to different societies, and the new challenges these societies present, such as adaptation and integration, job seeking, and learning a new language. This requires psychological strength and cognitive processing to address these challenges and achieve the goals set before migration.These challenges can multiply, creating further difficulties, especially for undocumented migrants, due to their lack of residency papers in the country they migrated to. This can lead to highly complex administrative and legal procedures, such as finding suitable employment, validating educational certificates, and obtaining appropriate healthcare. Despite all the complexities that may affect the lives of undocumented migrants, a question has repeatedly drawn my attention as a researcher in the field of migration and as a clinician working with both documented and undocumented migrants: Why do undocumented migrants not return to their homelands despite all the hardships they face?

Between the challenges of staying and the impossibility of returning that this group experiences, the number of undocumented migrants is increasing, especially in recent years. Therefore, through this research paper, we will attempt to highlight the most prevalent psychological difficulties, while trying to understand the psychological aspects that hinder their return to their homelands. Finally, we will provide a set of recommendations and psychological suggestions related to undocumented migration, given the scarcity of psychological research focusing on the psychology of migration and the return of undocumented migrants to their homelands.We note that the aim of this research paper is not to generalize, which must be avoided, as each case is unique in its response to the migration situation.