Asylum seeker – a person who has travelled to another country to seek that country’s protection from persecution, war, or violence.
Refugee – someone who has been accepted by that country as having a “well-founded fear of persecution in their home country for reasons of race, religion, nationality, member of a particular social group, or political opinion”.
Economic migrant – a person who moves to another country because of the better opportunities than exist in that person’s home country.
‘Bogus’ or ‘Illegal’ asylum seeker – There is no such thing as ‘bogus’ or ‘Illegal’ asylum seekers. People are legally entitled to make an application for asylum.
Illegal immigrant – someone who has no right to remain in the UK and has not applied for asylum. For example, this could be someone who arrived under a tourist or student visa, and that visa has expired. A person who has fled persecution or war in their home country is not an illegal immigrant under the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees.
