Challenging Borders and Roles: The "Sandwich Generation" in Venezuelan Migration to Peru

This paper presents preliminary results from a comparative study on transnational care in contexts of protracted humanitarian crises, focusing on Venezuelan migrants in Peru. Based on 60 narrative interviews with migrants in Peru and 40 semi-structured interviews with their elderly parents in Venezuela, we analyze the trajectories of the transnational "sandwich generation": women who simultaneously provide long-distance care to their parents in Venezuela and their children in Peru.

Our findings reveal how these women negotiate and organize their care roles in a context of precariousness. Transnational care strategies are affected by interconnected factors: the multidimensional crisis in Venezuela intensifies the need for remittances and emotional support, forcing these women to maintain constant connections through digital technologies. Difficulties in labor market integration in Peru, exacerbated by discrimination and lack of credential recognition, hinder the generation of income necessary to sustain both ends of the care chain. The family situation, especially in single-parent households, adds layers of complexity, requiring emotional and logistical juggling. Furthermore, restrictive migration policies in Peru limit mobility and family reunification, forcing creative adaptations in transnational care practices.

We argue that these dynamics not only reconfigure family relationships but also enrich and challenge existing theoretical frameworks on migration and care. This study contributes to decentering migration studies by focusing on South-South care experiences, offering a critical perspective on how protracted humanitarian crises shape and transform transnational care practices, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of migrant women in the face of multiple adversities.