The End of Terror? Examining Shifts in Immigration Policy in the Obama Administration
Immigration politics under the Bush administration was marked by the racialization and demonization of immigrants, the resurgence of a national security state, and the dissemination of fear that encumbered the rights of citizens and non-citizens alike. In this context, Arab, Muslim, and Latina/o immigrants were continually terrorized by the state via changes in law and new practices of implementation, while they were simultaneously constituted as potential terrorists. Following the mandate for change that included promises for comprehensive immigration reform and an end to aggressive state practices, the Obama administration initiated changes in immigration politics, prompting the question: have we reached the end of terror? In other words, how have the policies and practices of immigration changed under the Obama administration and more importantly how have those changes impacted or affected the larger discourse on immigrants? This paper, utilizes interviews with public officials, along with a review of newspapers and public records from the DHS to answer these questions. In particular, I examine shifts in policy, practice and framing of immigrants including the use of restrictive legislation in the states such as Arizona, which have reignited racialized fears