Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Nashville is home to a growing and diverse immigrant population, contributing significantly to the city’s cultural, social, and economic landscape. Despite this, immigrants in Nashville often face systemic undervaluation, as reflected in policies prevailing public rhetoric. For example, recent proposals suggest that undocumented students may lose access to public education, even while many immigrant students already face barriers to receiving specialized support due to language differences. These issues are not isolated but part of a broader context of anti-immigrant sentiment, which has far-reaching implications for educational equity and public policy. Words shape beliefs, and beliefs influence actions. The rhetoric used to discuss immigration plays a critical role in shaping public sentiment and, in turn, the policies that govern immigrant lives. This qualitative study consists of interviews with local education advocates, administrators, experts, and other leaders who work directly with immigrants or on issues affecting immigrant students. Interviews were analyzed with a constant comparative approach and using a thematic coding structure. Major themes include the impact of rhetoric on student wellbeing, rhetorical devices used in discussing immigration, and the polarizing climate surrounding this topic.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Kristin Baese
Recommended Citation
Ferguson, Rachael, "Middle Tennessee Rhetoric about Immigration" (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 41.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/41
Middle Tennessee Rhetoric about Immigration
Nashville is home to a growing and diverse immigrant population, contributing significantly to the city’s cultural, social, and economic landscape. Despite this, immigrants in Nashville often face systemic undervaluation, as reflected in policies prevailing public rhetoric. For example, recent proposals suggest that undocumented students may lose access to public education, even while many immigrant students already face barriers to receiving specialized support due to language differences. These issues are not isolated but part of a broader context of anti-immigrant sentiment, which has far-reaching implications for educational equity and public policy. Words shape beliefs, and beliefs influence actions. The rhetoric used to discuss immigration plays a critical role in shaping public sentiment and, in turn, the policies that govern immigrant lives. This qualitative study consists of interviews with local education advocates, administrators, experts, and other leaders who work directly with immigrants or on issues affecting immigrant students. Interviews were analyzed with a constant comparative approach and using a thematic coding structure. Major themes include the impact of rhetoric on student wellbeing, rhetorical devices used in discussing immigration, and the polarizing climate surrounding this topic.