In “When Migrants Become Political Pawns,” Dr. Sumana Chattopadhyay analyzes the U.S. migrant busing crisis of 2022 as a case study to examine ideas of nativism, identity politics, divisive rhetoric and the red-blue-purple political divide in the context of how these divides are reflected in the media coverage of immigration issues.
Under the U.S. migrant busing phenomenon, migrants, long weaponized as pawns in political debate and policy, were now physically moved like chess pieces to stoke divisive rhetoric about immigration before the 2022 midterm elections and to challenge then-President Joe Biden’s record. Chattopadhyay examines coverage of the busing crisis in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and local news outlets from Illinois, Florida, Texas, Utah, Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin. Her findings reveal differences across outlets in blue, red and purple states and emphasize the significant ethical implications of treating people as disposable pieces of a political game.
Learn more or purchase this book at Bloomsbury Academic
Chattopadhyay answered some questions about her new book, including where the idea for the book came from, her favorite part of the writing process and how the book complements her teaching and research.
How would you describe the book in one sentence?
This book analyzes the local and national media coverage of the U.S. migrant busing crisis which unfolded with Republican Governors Abbott, DeSantis and Ducey sending migrants to Democratic sanctuary cities for political theater and examines the idea of using human beings as pawns in a political game.
Where did the idea for this book come from?
The idea of this book came from a New Yorker article which was calling the migrants being physically moved as pawns. In my book, however, I expanded upon this idea through my analysis developing a concept called ‘pawnification.’
How does this book advance or complement your research and/or teaching?
One of my primary lines of research in the last decade has been focused on understanding how the media talk about crises, particularly migration crises and how it shapes public attitudes towards immigration. This book builds upon this further.
Is this your first book? What is your publishing history?
Yes, this is my first book. I have published journal articles and book chapters in other books in the past.
What was your favorite part of the writing/editing process?
My favorite part of the writing/editing process was delving in to media from blue, red and purple states and deepening my understanding of the cultures of these states which are quite different despite all being U.S. states.
What do you hope to accomplish with this book?
Through this book I hope to shed light on the increasing politicization of the issue of immigration, which has now reached a level where human beings are literally being used not just as scapegoats in the political rhetoric but also physically for political gain and the toll it can have on human beings and impacted communities. Also, using migrants as pawns is something other countries have done like Gaddafi and Erdogan but, in the past, this was a strategy used by autocratic leaders to score concessions or resources from other countries. It has not been used as a tactic to pressurize political stakeholders within one’s own country (in this case, then President Biden and his administration).
If you have recently published a book, or if you have one coming out, we would like to feature your publication in an upcoming Marquette Bookshelf feature. More information on the submission process is available online.
Book Details
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic (April 2, 2026)
- Language: English
- Hardcover: 241 pages
- ISBN-10: 1666957437
- ISBN-13: 978-1978759947
