Undocumented individuals in U.S. society have been barred from access to federal economic relief during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Increased visibility of the vulnerability of undocumented individuals may provide a window of opportunity for inclusive policies. On the contrary, previous research about pro-immigrant sentiment shows that supporters of undocumented migrants advocate for them by using discourse that ultimately reifies their exclusion. The current study uses Twitter data collected from March to July 2020 to examine public discourse on undocumented immigrants during the pandemic. Our research question is: “How do Twitter users frame deservingness of undocumented immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic?” We find that: (1) relief for undocumented immigrants continues to be contingent even in times of crisis, (2) economic productivity is a prerequisite of deservingness, and (3) anti-immigrant frames that scapegoat immigrants are flexible to the political and public health conditions of a historical period. Implications for policy are discussed.

在全球COVID-19大流行期间，美国社会中无证​​件的个人被禁止获得联邦经济救济。对没有证件的个人的漏洞的可见度提高，可能为包容性政策提供机会。相反，先前有关亲移民情绪的研究表明，无证移民的支持者通过使用最终使他们被排斥的话语来为他们辩护。当前的研究使用的是从2020年3月至2020年7月收集的Twitter数据，以检查关于大流行期间无证移民的公开言论。我们的研究问题是：“在COVID-19大流行期间，Twitter用户如何构想无证移民的应得之物？” 我们发现：（1）即使在危机时期，对无证件移民的救济仍然是可能的，（2）经济生产力是应得的前提，（3）替罪羊移民可以灵活适应历史时期的政治和公共卫生条件的反移民框架。讨论了对政策的影响。