Lives in cages: A media analysis of incarceration experiences across generations on the US-Mexico border

This chapter examines media narratives on the incarceration experiences of migrant families in detention centers on the US–Mexico border. Past literature analyses perceptions of migrants as a whole or focuses on adult detainees, being there is a lack of research on perceptions towards migrant children and families. By comparing three major media outlets in the US—CNN, FOX, and CBS—a thematic analysis is conducted to explore (i) how migrants are portrayed, either adults, children or several generations of migrant families, (ii) how their incarceration experiences are conveyed by the media, and (iii) what are the possible differences present in the various media outlets under analysis. We further discuss how the media portrays these different generations of migrants being held in migration detention centers, and how this may impact the public views of migrants.