Asylum and immigration

Not all persons who land in a country illegally are necessarily merely illegal immigrants. Refugees are persons who flee their country on account of persecution and who therefore have a right to protection. Asylum seekers are persons who have applied...

Not all persons who land in a country illegally are necessarily merely illegal immigrants. Refugees are persons who flee their country on account of persecution and who therefore have a right to protection. Asylum seekers are persons who have applied for refugee status.

Persons needing temporary protection are displaced persons who do not qualify for refugee status, but who still need temporary protection.

Placing persons under one of these categories, or under none of these at all, is by no means simple. This is why the EU has both a strict border policy and another that aims at gradually introducing a Common European Asylum System.

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