What Happens Post-Return Migration? The Experiences of Brazilian Returnees from Ireland

Abstract

This paper examines the settlement challenges faced by Brazilian returnees from Ireland during their re-integration in Anápolis, in the state of Goiás. This paper draws on data collected as part of a four-year research project on the determinants of Brazilian migration from Anápolis in Goiás, to Gort in County Galway, Ireland (de Farias, 2022). The evidence presented below emerges from in-depth, qualitative interview with 40 Brazilian return migrants in Anápolis. This study reveals that most participants faced a variety of challenges after returning from Ireland to re-integrate in Anápolis, many of which overlapped and intertwined with each other. The difficulties faced by most returnees were related to (1) economic challenges, (2) labour market challenges, (3) weather-related problems, (4) psychological issues, (5) city, and urban-related problems, (6) property-related issues, (7) health-related issues, (8) network and friendship problems, and (9) people´s manner problems. The collected data also evidence that despite facing challenges in their re-integration, 21 (52.5%) participants did not regret their decision to return; while the other 19 (47.5%) participants regretted having returned to Anápolis. The results corroborate previous studies (Cassarino, 2008b; Yehuda-Sternfeld & Mirsky, 2014), as they show that Brazilian returnees faced considerable adjustment problems, especially around the reintegration process, including socio-psychological, economic and cultural aspects, which are interrelated and affect each other.