Making of home: Transportation mobility and well-being among Tucson refugees

The article is based on a multidisciplinary research project that aimed to study mobility challenges that refugees in Tucson, Arizona experience after their resettlement. Using qualitative and quantitative data collected from interviews and survey data, we argue that mobility shapes the ways refugees foster social connections, attain employment and access educational opportunities. Accordingly, barriers to mobility negatively impact refugees' perception of well-being in post resettlement. However, these challenges are not experienced unevenly. Nor are refugees passive subjects who lack agency in overcoming various barriers they experience. The study also reveals the resilience of the refugee community in navigating the intersectional challenges they confront related to their mobility. We hope that the implications of this study can inform various stakeholders to better support refugees in navigating existing mobility and transportation challenges and to promote policy change that can increase better spatial mobility for all Tucson community members.

Automated summary

This article is based on a multidisciplinary research project that aims to explore the mobility challenges faced by refugees in Tucson, Arizona after their resettlement. Through qualitative and quantitative data analysis, the article argues that mobility plays a significant role in refugees' social connections, employment attainment, and access to education opportunities. Barriers to mobility negatively impact refugees' well-being perception post-resettlement. However, the challenges are not uniformly experienced, and refugees are not passive subjects incapable of overcoming barriers. The study also reveals the resilience of the refugee community in navigating intersectional challenges related to their mobility. The implications of this study aim to inform stakeholders on better supporting refugees in navigating existing mobility and transportation challenges, as well as promoting policy change to enhance spatial mobility for all members of the Tucson community.