Abstract
The introduction of Senate Bill 1070 revitalized the immigration discourse on a national level. Through a qualitative content analysis method, this study uses a novel Integrated Covert Nativism Framework to understand how 21st century nativism frames the discourse surrounding SB 1070. The discourse surrounding immigration reform before the bill was introduced included discussion of rights for undocumented migrants, but shifted toward discussing the civil rights violations of documented citizens, perpetuating the nativist binary. The discourse also minimized the significance of race and emphasized reporting non-race related issues surrounding SB 1070, such as the debate of state and federal jurisdiction of immigration restriction. The Integrated Covert Nativism Framework—a synthesis of color-blind racism and intersectionality theory— helps clarify the covert forms of bias that marginalize migrants and women’s rights issues.