Guidelines for Responsible Immigration Coverage in an Age of Disinformation

Covering immigration issues accurately and with proper context is a crucial and complex task, and the stakes have never been higher. False claims that seek to tie immigration to criminality have emerged as central narratives despite research to the contrary. This biased narrative has also long been promoted by the anti-immigrant movement as a strategy to advance bigotry and nativist policies.

Respected researchers and members of the intelligence community have warned that extreme and targeted rhetoric from elected officials and far-right groups poses a significant risk of sparking violence against immigrants, while journalists have noted that such rhetoric is “increasingly becoming part of mainstream political speech.”

Meanwhile, conspiracy theories like the “Great Replacement Theory” have already significantly impacted U.S. public opinion. U.S. government sources have identified disinformation as a serious risk. At the same time, journalists face increasing challenges of limited resources and tight deadlines.

This memo is designed to be a resource for news editors and reporters covering immigration in this fraught moment. It provides context and background on key challenges concerning news coverage on immigration and offers a set of recommendations informed by a review of best practices drawn from academic, journalistic, and other experts.