Author: The article “Children were Dirty, They Were Scared, and They were Hungry” by by Lizzy O’Leary, a writer who takes her interest for immigrant families journey coming to the United States to a written stance. O’Leary teams up with an Immigration Attorney who describes her journey when explaining what she has witnessed at the border.

Rhetorical Analysis/ Exigence: The article was written to uncover the horrible conditions migrant families experience when seeking asylum in the United States. Many immigrant families seek a safe environment, better education, and escaping the violence their home brings. Innocent people shouldn’t be locked up in cages and treated as if they are an animal. This worldwide issue needs to be heard and O’Leary and Muhkerjee apply pressure onto the fact that innocent children are being held in crowded cages with little to no food, as well as no medical attention if needed. The tone and word choice used in O’Learys article puts focus on the importance of the issue, by using words like “Degrading” and ” inhuman” to describe the treatment the children are experiencing in the Federal Custody Facilities.

Audience: The article attracts an audience of readers who would like to further educate themselves on the social issue of  how immigrant families are being treated in Government facilities. Therefor, what Muhkerjee writes is pointed towards people who want to better their understanding on the social issue that is happening right under our noses.

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to educate the audience about the social issues of migrant children being detained in Government facilities under harsh conditions. The writer wants to inform the readers about what is exactly happening to these children that the Government isn’t showcasing. O’Leary mentions her little understanding to the crisis, As a result she invites Elora Mukherjee, a professor at Columbia Law School. Elora Mukherjee has been working on issues related to the crisis, and has interviewed immigrant families being detained in migrant facilities. The writer informs her audience about the “Inhuman” and “Degradation” conditions as described from Professor Mukherjee’s Interview with the immigrant families.

Genre: The article is an informational because the writer continuously addresses how she interviewed professor Elora who mostly educate the readers on what she witnessed while visiting the facilities. The writer’s whole purpose is to educate her audience on what is going on with immigrant families who are seeking asylum in the United States. In addition, informational articles are used to communicate a point and further educate the audience to understand the topic clearly, and that is exactly what Mukherjee does.

Stance: The writer Lizzie O’Leary believes that no person should be treated with such inhuman and degrading conditions. The author demands more attention for these children who are living under these conditions with little to no help and attention. O’Leary asks her readers to reach out to congress regardless of ones background and political background.