Consolidating Power Through 'Heroic' Enforcement Narratives
FIRST INSTANCE: The Post-9/11 Rebranding of Domestic Security (2002-2003) Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, the concept of 'homeland security' rapidly became a dominant political narrative. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002, which absorbed various agencies including the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as ICE, was justified under the premise of
protecting national security (DHS, 2002). This period saw a significant expansion of executive powers and a rhetorical shift where border enforcement and immigration control were increasingly linked to counter-terrorism efforts. The 'heroic' framing enabled a rapid centralization of power and a public acceptance of previously unprecedented surveillance and enforcement measures. REPETITIONS:
'Border Crisis' Narratives and Enforcement Escalation (2014-2018) The same playbook was evident during multiple administrations. In 2014, amidst a surge of unaccompanied minors at the southern border, political figures frequently employed language highlighting the 'heroic' efforts of border agents facing an 'overwhelming' crisis, deflecting from the root causes of migration. For example,
then-House Speaker John Boehner echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the 'tough job' performed by border patrol (CNN, 2014). This narrative provided political cover for increased funding requests for enforcement, such as the Border Patrol’s budget, which rose from $1.1 billion in 2003 to $4.7 billion by 2018 (CBP, 2018). REPETITIONS: 'Public Safety' and Criminalization of Entry (2018-2020) Under