What’s the Difference Between a Migrant and a Refugee? (2024)
Migrant and refugee are just two of the many terms we use to describe people who are seeking new homes in other countries. These two terms in particular are hot topics around the world owing to large numbers of people fleeing violence, poverty, political repression, and environmental disasters in their home countries for better and safer prospects elsewhere. But is there a difference between migrants and refugees? And does it matter?
The main difference is choice. Simply speaking, a migrant is someone who chooses to move, and a refugee is someone who has been forced from their home. Refugees, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), are people who are “fleeing armed conflict or persecution” and “for whom denial of asylum has potentially deadly consequences.” Refugees leave their home countries because it is dangerous for them to stay. Turning refugees away could mean sentencing them to death. They often arrive without their personal belongings, sometimes without preplanning.
Migrants, on the other hand, may move for any number of reasons. Some of them move to be with family or for economic reasons. Others move for education. Many of them return to their home countries after a few years. They are often able to plan their own travel and bring or sell their belongings. Does this mean that all migrants are moving from good situations to better ones? Unfortunately, no. Many people migrate because their homes have become dangerous or difficult to live in. They might be fleeing from unrest, famine, drought, or economic collapse. But unless they are in danger of conflict or persecution, they are not considered refugees.
The distinction is an important one, because an international convention in 1951 outlined certain rights for people deemed refugees, whereas migrants have no such rights. Refugees are protected from being deported or returned to situations that might threaten their lives. They are to be given access to social services and to be integrated into their new country’s society. Migrants are subjected to a country’s immigration laws and procedures and can be turned away or deported back to their homeland.
The main difference is choice. Simply speaking, a migrant is someone who chooses to move, and a refugee is someone who has been forced from their home.
A migrant is someone who chooses to move, not because of a direct threat of persecution or death, but mainly to improve their lives through work opportunities, education, family reunification or other reasons. Unlike refugees who cannot safely return home, migrants face no such impediment to return.
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
What is the difference between an "immigrant" and a "refugee"? An immigrant is a mover who moves from one country to another voluntarily while a refugee is a move who involuntarily moves from one country to another due to persecution, threat of violence or deprivation.
Refugees are persons who are outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circ*mstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection.
While dictionary definitions sometimes distinguish 'immigrants' – people who are, or intend to be, settled in their new country – from 'migrants' who are temporarily resident, 'immigrant' and 'migrant' (as well as 'foreigner') are often used interchangeably in public debate and even among research specialists.
Who is a migrant? The UN Migration Agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM), defines a migrant as any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a State away from his/her habitual place of residence, regardless of:the person's legal status.
Butner argues that Jesus largely satisfies the contemporary legal definition of a refugee, but it's debatable whether the journey to Egypt took him “outside of his country of origin,” since Egypt and Bethlehem were both part of the Roman Empire.
The Islamic Republic of Iran and Türkiye each hosted 3.4 million refugees, the largest populations worldwide. Germany was third with 2.5 million, followed by Colombia with slightly less than 2.5 million, including other people in need of international protection. Pakistan hosted 2.1 million refugees.
Refugees are people forced to flee their own country and seek safety in another country. They are unable to return to their own country because of feared persecution as a result of who they are, what they believe in or say, or because of armed conflict, violence or serious public disorder.
Refugees must receive the same treatment as nationals of the receiving country with regard to the following rights: Free exercise of religion and religious education. Free access to the courts, including legal assistance. Access to elementary education.
Under U.S. immigration law, a person granted asylum is legally allowed to remain in the country without fear of deportation. They qualify to work and travel abroad and can apply for their spouse or children under the age of 21 to join them.
An umbrella term, not defined under international law, reflecting the common lay understanding of a person who moves away from his or her place of usual residence, whether within a country or across an international border, temporarily or permanently, and for a variety of reasons.
Application Differences Between Asylees and Refugees
If they apply for protection from abroad and are granted protection, they are considered refugees. If they apply for protection from within the destination country and are granted protection, they are considered asylees.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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