ABSTRACT
Frames serve as central organizing themes in telling stories. Frames present a certain view of a story in much the same way a picture frame or a window frame limits what a viewer sees. This chapter explores how media have framed the immigration story and how the media have shaped both the story and public opinion. The homeland security frame deals with the government’s effort to protect the US from foreign and domestic threats. Immigration is among the most important media stories of our day. In the United States, there are two pressing immigration stories. One deals with people who enter the country through official channels seeking lawful permanent residence status. The other story concerns those who have entered the US without government permission or who remain after their visa has expired. The way the media report on immigration—from the frequency, quantity, and angle of coverage to the sources quoted—influences how we think about and make judgments regarding the issue.
