When International Protection Fails

Abstract

Access to asylum can mean the difference between life and death. Yet asylum policies around the world have become increasingly restrictive. Every day, individuals are refused admission into and expelled from countries without having access to fair and effective status-determination processes. Some are returned to countries where their human rights cannot be guaranteed. Despite the existence of international agreements, states often fail to protect refugees, fearing threats to national security, domestic destabilization, infiltration by armed groups or traffickers, depletion of scarce resources, and influx of more refugees. Sometimes xenophobia or racism determines a state’s response. International agencies also fall short in their protection operations.