Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to examine American reactions to child migrant crises and the role that the executive branch of government has in framing public opinion. In 2014 and 2018, the United States faced two separate and distinct child migrant crises: The Central American Migrant Crisis and the Family Separation Policy, respectively. Under polarizing presidents, the American public found themselves faced with similar humanitarian and voting issues in the same decade. Through research of the history and government response to each crisis, the 2014 Central American Migrant Crisis and the 2018 Family Separation Policy will be explored to understand how public opinion is formed through presidential framing. Through an analysis of immigration trends, reasons for crisis, presidential framing, and public opinion polls, this paper will help to understand the role executive framing has in influencing public opinion and why child migrant crises incite such strong, emotional, and varied responses from the American public.