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Jargon Buster

When talking about asylum, refugees and immigration it's important to get your lingo right...

Some of the vocabulary you'll have heard a hundred times before, other words will be totally new. In some cases the definitions might come as a surprise. This section is all about helping you make sense of some of terms used over the course of our debate...

Key terms

Asylum-seeker
Someone who has been forced to leave their country of origin and is in the process of applying for asylum in another country.

Economic migrant
Someone who leaves their country of origin through choice on the grounds that they will have more opportunity to find employment.

Immigrant
Someone who leaves their country of origin to take up permanent residence in another country.

Illegal entrant
Usually confused with 'illegal immigrant'. Defines people who have come into the UK by clandestine means (hiding on a lorry, for example).

Refugee
Someone who has been officially granted permission to settle in another country after being forced to leave their country. Circumstances leading to their departure include war, poverty, political turmoil, natural disasters or persecution based on race, religion or gender.

Glossary

Act
A Bill that has been passed by Parliament, received Royal Assent, and become law

Asylum
Granting protection to someone who is avoiding persecution in his/her country of origin

Bill
A proposed law that is being discussed in Parliament but has not been passed

Claiman
Someone who has applied for asylum

Clandestine
To conceal yourself and keep your intentions secret

Clause
A section of a document that focuses on a specific point or subject

Deportation
Removing someone from a country

ELR (Exceptional Leave to Remain)
This is where someone has not been granted permanent residence but is temporarily granted the protection of the host country

Immigration officer
Official whose job it is to process people coming into the UK from another country

Legislation
A law or set of laws

Migration
When people move from their country of origin

Persecute
To treat someone cruelly or in an unjust manner

'Third' country
This is a country believed to be 'safe' (respects human rights) and a suitable location for deported asylum-seekers

Trafficking
Buying, selling and moving people or goods in an illegal manner

Tribunal
A type of court given authority to make decisions on a particular issue

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