Imagery plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception and understanding of border security and migration. As migration crises intensify globally, particularly across Africa, Europe, and the Americas, the media often utilize powerful visuals to construct compelling narratives. This conceptual paper explores how visual imagery in news coverage influences the framing of border security and migrants, often reducing complex humanitarian issues to simplistic security discourses. Drawing from studies on Greece, the U.S. - Mexico border, and the Polish - Belarusian migration crises, as well as research on Nigeria’s migration governance, the paper reveals how migrants are portrayed as threats, victims, or dehumanized masses. The theoretical framework guiding this study is securitization theory. The researchers recommended adopting ethical journalistic practices that offer balanced representations and incorporating policy reforms that regulate media portrayals of migration. Ultimately, this paper emphasizes the need for a human-centric visual narrative that aligns with international humanitarian values while preserving national security interests.