Family Preservation Strategies: Regendering Labor in Mixed-Status Marriage After Co-Deportation

Abstract

Harsh U.S. deportation policies disproportionately target Latin American immigrant working-class men and subsequently divide families. The unique experiences of co-deported, mixed-status couples are missing from the depor-tation literature—that is, U.S. citizens, primarily women, who live outside of the United States with their deported Latin American immigrant spouses (what we call co-deportation) rather than living separately. Using hegemonic masculinity, this research qualitatively analyzes the experiences of eleven mixed-status couples internationally co-deported. Findings suggest couples’ gender dynamics shift paid and unpaid labor to sustain family life living as co-deportees. Co-deported couples are a testament to how adaptable heterosexual gender dynamics can be, but they also demonstrate the deep entrench-ment of hegemonic gender. This research provides implications for social workers advocating for transnational co-deported families.