News photos shape immigration attitudes

News images of immigrants have an effect on some Americans' attitudes towards immigration, a new University of Michigan study shows. Photos of large groups of immigrants, such as the migrant caravan, may decrease support for immigration. Images of individuals, however, produce the opposite effect. In line with work on "person positivity,” personalized images tend to increase support for immigration, particularly among Americans who are threat-sensitive. News coverage about immigration has intensified in the last decade, as media outlets often report on Central American migrants-often portrayed in thousands-coming to the Mexico-U.S. border seeking refuge from their home countries. The text and photos used in these stories shape public sentiments.