According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a refugee is a person who is unable to remain in his or her country due to a well-founded fear of persecution (for reasons of race, religion, nationality, etc.)
The UNHCR offers guidance on who may be legally considered a refugee, and national governments themselves also develop procedures to determine an individual’s refugee status.
Recently, the world has seen mass migrations of people fleeing war and conflict, and international debates are taking place about how to engage with and take care of these refugees.
Different countries, organizations, and communities have established procedures for relocating, sponsoring, and integrating these refugees into their new society. From providing them with language classes to helping them find work and homes.
The United States is a signatory to the 1967 Protocol to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. People who have been determined to be refugees can, for example, be granted asylum in the United States, as long as he or she is not barred from seeking asylum.
If you have any questions about your status, options, or about refugee or asylum law in general, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions.
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