Subject Area
Politics
Description
Media portrayals of Venezuelan immigrants1 in the United States have been studied extensively. However, less scholarly attention has addressed how countries—particularly Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico—frame and portray Venezuelan migrants in news coverage. Arguably, narratives of migrants significantly shape public understanding and influence political rhetoric and policy outcomes, as such a significant research gap exists. Through a tri-national news media comparison, this study examines narratives about Venezuelan migrants and explores how these portrayals differ in the triad of national contexts. Importantly, these three experience migration differently: the U.S. is a large receiving state Trinidad & Tobago is a small receiving state—(and closest to Venezuela), and Mexico is both a receiving and transit state for these migrants.2
Methodologically, this study utilizes various national media sources, and a coding system is applied based on media frames, including but not limited to: national security threat, humanitarian issue, and neglected crisis. This investigation is important as the triad of countries addresses and frames migration differently, especially factoring in geographical location, country size and whether a receiving or transit state. These three factors influence how narratives and migrant identities are constructed.
1 In this research “immigrant” refers to someone moving from one country to another with intent to settle long-term. While “migrant” is a broader term describing someone moving from place to place either within or across country borders. Although not used in this study, “emigrant” refers to someone exiting and leaving their country."
2 For a receiving state immigrants enter with intent to stay; while for a transit state, migrants pass through, and the state is used as an avenue to reach a different destination.
Publisher
Providence College
Publication Date
Spring 2026
Type
Thesis
Format
Text
.pdf (text under image)
Language
English
