Abstract
This project examines how public opinion on immigration changes in response to the framing of major immigration policies in the United States. The study is grounded in Policy feedback theory, which argues that shifts in public opinion reflect the dominant frames of policy. The independent variable is the framing of the legislation, measured by presidential State of the Union addresses, and the dependent variable is the public's sentiments on immigration, measured by the media's portrayal. Utilizing a qualitative comparative historical design, the project analyzes the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, DACA in 2012, the Trump travel ban in 2017, and the DREAM Act, specifically selected for a variety of time, passage, and type of policy .
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Christopher Olds
Department/Program
Political Science
Submission Type
in-person poster
Date
4-13-2026
Rights
Copyright the Author(s)
Recommended Citation
Albers, Madison May
(2026)
"Immigration and Policy: Who Influences Who?,"
SACAD: Scholarly Activities: Vol. 2026, Article 7.
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/sacad/vol2026/iss2026/7
