THE SECURITIZATION OF MIGRATION: AN ANALYSIS OF UNITED STATES BORDER SECURITY AND MIGRATION POLICY TOWARD MEXICO

Abstract

By examining securitization speech acts and the organizational behavior of the agencies tasked with controlling border security and immigration, this thesis will examine the consequences of security discourse on United States policies for the borderlands, the impact of escalating speech acts for the securitization of those key territories, and the limits placed upon political leaders and relevant organizations by institutional forces. Specifically, this thesis will examine the implementation and consequences of guest-worker programs between the United States and Mexico during World War I and World War II. In addition, this thesis will examine how organizational behavior shaped the ability of United States government agencies to implement and enforce border security and labor policy.