Debating Immigration utilizes a theoretically informed framework for analyzing the multifaceted immigration debate before and after 9/11 in the age of terrorism, political polarization, and authoritarianism.

Grand contradictions -- The perceived threat of terrorism and the authoritarian turn in attitudes toward immigration -- The news media, terrorism, and the immigration threat nexus -- The president goes negative -- Congressional hearings: immigration frames in expert testimonies -- The partisan fear of terrorism, the polarization of immigration attitudes, and the 2016 presidential campaign.