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Framing Immigration: A Critical Discourse Analysis and Close Reading of President Biden's (2021) and President Trump’s (2025) Immigration Executive Orders
Malmö University, Faculty of Culture and Society (KS), Department of Global Political Studies (GPS).
2025 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 28 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

This study conducted a comparative analysis of the framing and rhetorical devices used by President Biden (2021) and President Trump (2025) in their executive orders relating to immigration. Executive orders are a powerful tool used by presidents, as they solely require the president's approval before put into action. The methodology used was multidisciplinary, with Fairclough’s three-dimensional model and close reading from literary studies. Furthermore, the theories applied included Benedict Anderson’s ‘Imagined Communities’ and George Lakoff’s ‘Framing Theory’. The analysis focused on three themes: defining immigration and who an immigrant is, framing American identity in relation to immigration, and humanitarianism vs. securitisation. Biden's framing and rhetorical language aimed to portray immigrants in a more positive and progressive light. Whereas Trump focused on weaponised language and framing immigration as a nuisance to the American people. Additionally, the study found that the presidents utilised ethos, pathos, and logos differently. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. , p. 78
Keywords [en]
IMER, Executive Orders, Critical Discourse Analysis, Close Reading, Imagined Communities, Framing Theory
National Category
International Migration and Ethnic Relations
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-78213OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-78213DiVA, id: diva2:1978283
Educational program
KS GPS International Migration and Ethnic Relations
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Available from: 2025-07-01 Created: 2025-06-27 Last updated: 2025-07-01Bibliographically approved

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  • apa
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