Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research International Relations Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 67-76)

ABSTRACT
A subject matter like migration gets securitized through securitizing moves.
Securitizing moves include acts of speech. A securitizing actor, like a politician,
performs those speech acts in which he portrays the subject as a potential security
threat. In this thesis, I investigate mainstream media trends, public opinion polls and
speech acts about migration across the US-Mexico border to ascertain how much the
increased influx of migrants into the USA across the border over the last seven years
correlates with policy challenges in the USA from the light of the Securitization
Theory. This is achieved by an attempt at answering the following research question:
To what extent have the responsible policymakers in the USA securitized the USMexico border following the increased influx of migrants into the USA across the
border between January 2016 and January 2021? Using the securitization theory from
the Copenhagen School of thought, my findings reveal securitizing moves perpetrated
in the sampled speech acts. These speech acts made attempts to characterize migrants
as an existential threat to the USA and called for the implementation of emergency
measures. Through a content analysis of President Trump's actions and speeches on
immigration and border security, the research found that the securitization of migration
at the border was a failure in several key ways, for example. President Trump's actions
and speeches on US-Mexico border security had a negative impact on relations with
Mexico, straining bilateral ties and undermining cooperation on issues such as trade
and security. Also, presidents Trump focused on punishing migrants, rather than
addressing the root causes of migration, from their home countries.
Keywords: Copenhagen School, Donald Trump, Migration, Securitization Theory,
US-Mexico Border.