Back to the Roots: Exploring the Reintegration Experiences of Moroccan Return Immigrants

This study explores the reintegration experiences of Moroccan return immigrants, using a mixed-methods approach to answer our research questions, focusing on the motivations behind their decisions, and how much satisfied they are with their experience, with a primary focus on the factors that impact their reintegration process. Specifically, the research combines quantitative data from an online survey with qualitative interviews to provide a full understanding of how returnees navigate life back in Morocco after living abroad. A sample of 208 return migrants aged between 25 and 50 years participated in the online survey, while a subsample of 27 returnee participated in semi-structured interviews conducted online in Moroccan Darija. Quantitative data were examined using descriptive statistics and correlational analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to identify emerging patterns. Results suggest that return motivations include familial ties, financial opportunity reasons, a sense of belonging to the homeland, and difficulties with integration, while reintegration is often challenged by systemic issues such as bureaucratic inefficiency, limited public services, and social adaptation. Despite these challenges, factors like lower levels of reentry shock, higher emotional intelligence and socioeconomic status, and strong family support were associated with greater life satisfaction among returnees. These findings highlight the need for tailored policies to support return migrants' reintegration. These policies should focus on simplifying bureaucratic processes, improving access to public services, and providing psychosocial support to address emotional and cultural challenges, which could lead to more successful and sustainable reintegration outcomes.