Date of Award
Spring 5-18-2024
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Advisor(s)
Greta Gilbertson
Second Advisor
Kate Wilson, Ph.D.
Abstract
Puerto Rican migration to the United States has historically been circulatory, as is characteristic of Caribbean migration and migration from territories. After the mass exodus from Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017, newspapers are reporting that Puerto Ricans are returning to the island. This study used posts from social media to obtain people’s perspective on return migration, and understood these through a framework of push and pull factors. The study created an informal database in order to break down close readings of social media. From that, a table was created that quantified recurrences of common patterns. The study determined that Puerto Ricans overwhelmingly criticized returning migrants, citing various economic push factors such as the common worker’s conditions, the cost of living, and the housing crisis. Meanwhile, those with positive outlooks on return migrants and return migration overwhelmingly reflected strong links to their communities and Puerto Rico itself which is consistent with transnationalist experiences.
Recommended Citation
Sostre Gotay, Alondra, "Attitudes around Circulatory Migration in Puerto Rico, 2017-2023: Puerto Rico Without Puerto Ricans" (2024). Senior Theses. 145.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/international_senior/145
