Migrant vs. Refugee: Why the distinction matters.
The two terms may seem like they can be used interchangeably but in reality carry very different legal consequences.
Languages are difficult, especially when words are used interchangeably. Yet, often times, the words we are using synonymously don’t match up. Sometimes this just comes down to poor grammar like using affect vs. effect. Other times it can become more complicated like bisect vs. dissect. Bisect is to cut in two while dissect is to cut apart. Similar yet not the same.
We, as humans, are constantly misusing words - even those people whom we proclaim to trust and should be the pinnacle of grammatical excellence. A prime example of this misstep in not delving deeper into the words we are writing down is the misuse of migrant vs. refugee in today’s media.
Right now the internet, political dialogue and honest to good humanitarian conversations are dominated by how and what countries and individuals can do to help. First things first — get the terms right.
To spell it out: a refugee is someone fleeing from conflict or persecution while a migrant is someone who chooses to leave their home but is not pressured through direct conflict. Refugees are protected by international law, which outlines the services states must provide. The underlying principle is that the state cannot send the refugee back to the country from which they fled.
Migrants on the other hand choose to leave on their volition usually for better living conditions, for work or to reunite with family members. Each government has their own set of laws and jurisdictions on how they handle migrants. Because of these differences, there are different approaches to how countries accept migrants and grant asylum.
This makes the current situation in Europe that much more difficult to define. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees states that both migrants and refugees are present in Europe. Yet distinctions need to be made as to how one could be classified as a refugee. Migrants could be leaving because of harsh conditions at home, but a refugee is someone who flees from persecution, imprisonment, loss of human rights and/or death.
Germany is the 2nd most popular destination for migrants behind the United States. In 2005, a new immigration law which for the first time acknowledged itself as an “immigration country”. Immigration for non-EU members is limited, especially for those unskilled workers. Only students or skilled workers— “individuals with either a university or polytechnic degree or at least 3 years of training together with job experience” — can easily obtain visas. Meanwhile, German law acts under accordance of the Geneva Convention on Refugees to grant the same rights as those whom have obtained asylum to those fleeing from persecution.
The UN refugee agency states that most of the people coming to Europe are refugees; however, there are some migrants in the midst. The specific refugee classification, in this instance, applies to those fleeing from war-torn countries such as: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya. The UN has posted multiple videos of refugees, including this one which examines the breadth of the crisis.
Understanding the difference is crucial. The distinction matters. The legal distinction is important. It can come down to life or death. Being able to determine the difference between what makes a refugee a refugee instead of a migrant could influence the current public opinion about the crisis.
The world is dealing with a humanitarian emergency and the difference of terms could reshape how these people are viewed. Many countries are not favorable toward immigration because they are afraid the influx of people coming to their countries is because they are seeking to take their jobs.
In April of last year, Greece, Italy and France were the three countries most fearful of those emigrating to the EU. The study conducted by the German Marshall Fund found that over 40 percent of immigration was due to work reasons and 26 percent due to seeking better social benefits, i.e migrants. Meanwhile, 18 percent was linked to those seeking asylum, i.e. refugees.
More than a million migrants came to Europe in 2015, but not all of them are refugees. Just under 950,000 have claimed asylum in the EU, according to EU statistics.
Distinctions matter. Terms matter, especially when it comes down to what legal restrictions are given to such persons. To lump all of the immigration influx as refugees or as migrants is unfair to those who are fleeing for their lives. Those who are fleeing for their lives are far less threatening than those seeking better living and working conditions. Life or death makes a difference as does the distinction in terms.
