Reconstructing identity during migratory transitions: A qualitative analysis of the deported Tunisian migrants’ case

Over the past decades, migratory flows have increased significantly, prompting host countries to implement forced return policies, particularly in Tunisia. However, the failure of a migration project and forced return have serious psychological and social consequences. While much research has focused on voluntary return, scant attention has been paid to forcibly repatriated individuals following migration failure. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the psychological impacts of forced return. More specifically, this research explores migrants’ decision-making processes, the identity transformations induced by migration and forced return, and the coping mechanisms they employ. Adopting an interactionist and situated approach, the study highlights that forced return generates profound identity disruptions, linked both to the migration project and the lived migration experience. To analyse these dynamics, autobiographical interviews were conducted with ten Tunisian migrants (aged 25 to 43) who, after emigrating to a European country, were forcibly repatriated. The interview analysis reveals the evolution of identity throughout the migration and return process, as well as the specific psychological effects of involuntary repatriation on migrants’ agency and well-being. These findings highlight the challenges faced by returning migrants and underscore the need for better reintegration support.