Risk, Repression and Resilience: The Case of Nicaraguan Transnational Families.

The migration of Nicaraguan women to the Basque Country mimics patterns of transnational families observed in other settings. Through a combination of distant and proximate care practices, various forms of support circulate across borders, allowing families to maintain a sense of collective well-being and unity despite the distance. However, the Nicaraguan case stands out due to the country’s complex political situation. Since 2018, the Nicaraguan government has enforced a broad campaign of surveillance and repression against its citizens, both within the country and abroad, prompting transnational families to reconsider and adapt their mobility and caregiving strategies.

The data for this study come from 24 in-depth interviews with Nicaraguan migrant women who maintain close ties with their home country and their relatives, whether in Nicaragua or in other countries. These interviews involved women and families in various stages and conditions, including refugees and political exiles, providing a basis for comparing their different care and family structures. Given the difficult situation in Nicaragua, special measures were adopted to ensure the safety of all interviewees.

The results illustrate the resilience of Nicaraguan transnational families as they adapt to an ever-changing political landscape. In the case of proximate care practices, such as temporary visits, these families must navigate the limits imposed by both the restrictive immigration policies of the country of destination and a repressive Nicaraguan government. As for the distant care strategies, families must strike a balance between assisting their loved ones in need and minimizing the risks they may face. In this context, Nicaraguan transnational families have started to communicate using false identities or secret codes, as well as sending their monetary remittances through untraceable financial services. This study contributes to understanding how political repression reshapes transnational caregiving, illustrating how Nicaraguan families adapt to the pressures of both distance and political control.