This study aims to comparatively analyze the discourse surrounding three prominent immigration policies: Build a Wall/Build the Wall, Remain in Mexico/Migrant Protection Protocol, and Title-42. By utilizing various databases, including NexisUni, the focus is on tracking the discourse used by the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, which have strong ties to the Latinx immigration community, in framing these policies. Two qualitative analyses are used—tracking discourse analysis and qualitative content analysis— paying particular attention to the headlines used by the newspapers. Through this comparative analysis of the discourse present in national newspapers, this study seeks to enhance the understanding of how immigration policy is framed in the media and the impact it may have. Furthermore, the research aims to promote a humanitarian narrative surrounding the migrant community within the ongoing debate on migrants. By shedding light on the framing of immigration policies in the media, this study hopes to contribute to a more informed and empathetic public discourse on the subject.

Across the U.S., many Black communities lack equal access to green spaces and consequently are affected by their absence. Current studies focus on the positive impacts of green space on communities of color including physical, mental, and environmental benefits. Urban green spaces include any open areas in cities like parks, gardens, or recreational outdoor spaces with natural greenery. Unfortunately, in Los Angeles, green space availability compared to other cities across the U.S. is low when measuring park space per person by race/ethnicity. Park inequities are more profound when analyzing differences between Black and white communities. This absence of local green space is a severe disadvantage to communities of color in urban areas as they are more susceptible to rising temperatures. Green space can mediate the effects of heat to help communities better cope with changing temperatures. Therefore we must understand the history of racially discriminatory practices to explain how spatial inequality of green space developed: Why are Black populations in Los Angeles concentrated and geographically segregated in areas with significantly less green space compared to white neighborhoods? How have government-sponsored segregation policies influenced Black settlement in LA? This project answers these questions through historical research, policy analysis, and engagement with theoretical work on Black geographies and geographies of exclusion.

My research examines the urban experiences of Indigenous communities and their use of public spaces in gentrified-impacted neighborhoods in Los Angeles. I argue that through the use of public space, Indigenous people are able to Indigenize placemaking and create a sense of belonging as a means to reclaim their right to the city. Ultimately, I aim to answer questions such as: What role does gentrification play in the use of public spaces? How do they Indigenize the process of placemaking to negotiate public space and resist gentrification? The methods intended for this research are photovoice. This method gives participants the opportunity to tell their own stories through a camera lens. Alongside photovoice, I will employ a focus group of Indigenous people from various backgrounds to engage in an open-ended discussion about their experience with gentrification. Lastly, I will compare LA maps to articulate the geography of gentrified impacted neighborhoods and Indigenous geography. This is significant in fortifying the notion that gentrification is a heinous process that has material and negative impacts on Indigenous communities. It will shed light on how gentrification is interlinked with settler colonialism and is a violent tool to further erase, displace, and marginalize Indigenous communities.