Securitization of Immigration in American Discourse

What causes people to view immigration in terms of national security? Securitization Theory suggests that securitization is the elite-driven process by which non-security issues are transformed via speech acts into urgent... [ view full abstract ]

What causes people to view immigration in terms of national security? Securitization Theory suggests that securitization is the elite-driven process by which non-security issues are transformed via speech acts into urgent security issues. Theorists often point to immigration discourse as a prime example of securitization, although there is little consensus of a specific causal variable. Given the rising concern on national security in America in the 21^st century, it has become ever more important to understand the extent to which immigration discourse has become securitized and if so, why. Although securitization theory focuses solely on speech-acts, the resulting policy acts and public opinion have the potential for dramatic repercussions. While securitization has benefits of increasing efficiency of policy changes in slow-moving bureaucratic systems, these must be acknowledged alongside the costs of framing policies in a securitization realm and thereby restricting fruitful discussion.

This project aims to provide empirical evidence to resolve the causal puzzle facing securitization theorists today. Through content analysis of State of the Union addresses, Congressional bills, Congressional hearings and newspaper articles over the past 30 years, this project attempts to discern when and why securitizing language is used in America regarding immigration. Should it be found that securitization levels have indeed changed significantly over the time period, 1982-2014, then the three possible causal hypotheses to be tested are: (1) national attacks are the major cause of securitization, (2) economic threats are the major cause of securitization, and (3) cultural threats are the major cause of securitization.