Each year, millions of people around the world flee their home countries in search of a safe place to rebuild their lives. Some are forced to do so because they feel threatened or harmed due to their race, religion, political views, sexuality, or membership in a social group. They might also be at risk because of poverty, war, gang violence, or natural disasters.
The government grants protection to those who meet the legal definition of a refugee and qualify for asylum by showing they have a credible fear of persecution if returned to their country of origin. This protection is called “asylum.” People who are granted asylum can live and work in the United States for life and sponsor their spouse and children to join them.
However, a person seeking asylum cannot automatically be granted refugee status or backstop forms of protection like withholding of removal. In fact, a person must apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the United States to have a chance of being granted these protections. A recent class action lawsuit ruled that the federal agencies USCIS and EOIR must provide clear notice of this deadline, as well as a uniform process to help people file on time.
Migrants are people who move to another country for a variety of reasons, including finding work or joining family members. They are not necessarily seeking protection from persecution or serious human rights violations in their home countries.