Abstract
The concept of transnational migration recognizes the ties that migrants retain with their origin countries. Despite numerous studies about transmigrants, few researchers have dedicated attention to the forms and mechanisms of simultaneous participation in origin and reception communities. In this article I analyze the motivations, mechanisms of and barriers to transnational political participation of Nigerians in New York City and Nigeria. Based on a qualitative study with the migrant community, the article concludes that political transnationalism is limited to a small proportion of Nigerian immigrants, and that the act of migrating alters the relative social position of individuals with respect to Nigerians and Americans, providing the resources they need to participate in Nigeria but limiting their involvement in the United States.
Keywords
Nigerian immigrants; transnationalism; transnational migration; transmigrants; political participation