Discursive representations of ‘illegal immigration’ in the Irish newsprint media: The domination and multiple facets of the ‘control’ argumentation

Abstract

Illegal immigration' is an intangible entity within Irish society and currently only minimal research has been undertaken on this topic. For multiple reasons, those referred to as 'illegal immigrants' are generally voiceless and have few opportunities for self-representation. Nonetheless, various portrayals of 'illegal immigrants' stem discursively through key Irish institutions. This article identifies the discourses that are disseminated by the Irish newsprint media and concentrates upon the most common argumentation (topos) forwarded -the 'control' of 'illegal immigration'. This specific argumentation is expressed through a variety of narratives, which are fused with both positive and negative ideologies. However, the majority of 'control' texts argue in favour of restrictions on 'illegal immigration'. Grounded within a Foucauldian and Critical Discourse Analysis framework, this article shows how the 'control' topos is linked to broader ideological conceptualizations of governmentality and national identity, which may contribute towards legitimized practices of inequality and exclusion in Ireland.

‘I have not witnessed it personally myself, but…’: Epistemics in managing talk on racism against immigrants in Ireland

“…These orientations resonate with findings from other studies that examine broader phenomena such as media discourses on migration and racism in Ireland (Burroughs, ; Conway, 2007). In settings such as Ireland, where it is routinely held that racism and anti‐racism simultaneously occur (Lentin & McVeigh, 2002) and where complexities of migration (Gilmartin, , ) upend the standard story of an inward migration that is unwanted or problematic, it is perhaps the case that issues of epistemic access and rights become available as resources for negotiating talk on racism.…”

“…Conway () contends that such inclusionary discourse is embedded in the perceived ‘historical duty’ of Ireland, which in itself is grounded in experiences of Irish emigration during the Irish famine alongside a deep desire to be perceived as a progressive nation among other nations. In contrast, Burroughs () in an analysis of Irish newspaper discourse between 2002 and 2009 shows prevalent problematic representations of ‘illegal immigrants’ and overt calls for ‘control’ of such migration. The argument here is that this problematic othering involved consolidating particular versions of belonging in Ireland, such as those which include undocumented Irish migrants in the United States of America.…”

(De)legitimating electronic surveillance: a critical discourse analysis of the Finnish news coverage of the Edward Snowden revelations

“…The media is a particularly important site of observation here both because of its considerable societal influence (e.g. Burroughs, 2015;Fairclough, 1995) and its central role in the Snowden leaks. Finland is a useful example of a technologically developed country where the Snowden revelations have, for the first time, put global electronic surveillance and its implications for citizens' privacy on the public agenda.…”

Bordering work in contemporary political discourse: The case of the US/Mexico border wall proposal

“…Formulations which create rhetorical distance between categories of people can be used to ‘other’ groups of people and construct and maintain boundaries between them and the general population (see Reyes, 2011; Román, 2013). For example, Burroughs (2015) describes how newspaper accounts about ‘illegal immigration’ can work to construct boundaries between legal and illegal citizens by ‘othering’ the illegal immigrant:[N]ews-print media texts contain a large level of national rhetoric, which functions to reinforce the ‘legitimate’ identity of the citizen. Through this ongoing process, the ‘subject’ (the ‘illegal immigrant’) is placed into the role of the ‘other’ in order to justify practices of State control and exclusion.…”

“…(Hall, 2001; Jager and Maier, 2009; Van Dijk, 2009; Wodak and Krzyzanowski, 2008; Wodak and Meyer, 2009: 167). (Burroughs, 2015: 167)…”