Language matters: Why we say ‘people seeking asylum’ 

Language matters: Why we say ‘people seeking asylum’ 

Language shapes perception, and the way we describe people fleeing violence, persecution, or war profoundly impacts how they are viewed and treated.

A subtle yet important distinction exists between the language ‘people seeking asylum’ and ‘asylum seekers’. While they may seem interchangeable, the term we use can either centre the humanity of people seeking safety or isolate them as “Other.”

Here’s why we say ‘people seeking asylum’ instead of ‘asylum seekers’ when we speak of our community.

Reason 1: Emphasising humanity and agency

The phrase ’people seeking asylum’ centres the person—their humanity, their story, and their agency. At the Asylum Seekers Centre, every person who comes through our door is seen first and foremost as a human being with needs, a story that is their own, fears and hopes.

Phuong Black, Client Support Services Manager at the Asylum Seekers Centre, explains: 

“‘While ‘asylum seeker’ highlights a person’s need for protection, it fails to capture the individual’s full story, including their broader context, aspirations, and potential to enrich their community.”

Phuong also shares a striking experience with a member of the community:

“He told me, ‘In my home country, I am a doctor, here I am nothing.’ This statement encapsulates the emotional and practical challenges faced by highly skilled people seeking asylum.”

“It speaks to the loss of professional identity, the frustration of devalued skills, and the profound impact of rebuilding a life and sense of self after fleeing persecution.”

We must put the person in the centre. It is crucial to stand with people striving to rebuild their lives amidst the loss they have faced and the uncertainty and structural disadvantage they continue to face.

Reason 2: Challenging hostility and stigma

Over the years, some media outlets and political rhetoric have weaponised the term ‘asylum seeker’ to stoke division and fear.

Fatima Rahmati, an Employment Coordinator at the ASC, reflects on this harmful rhetoric.

“Language when given such public and high profile platforms really impact and influence public opinion. Often when something is repeated often enough, many groups will adopt that view and the language used to shape it.”

Politicians and media who seek to divide also use the term “asylum seekers” paired with words like “illegal”, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and the myth that it is illegal to seek asylum.

Fatima notes this negative speech across the globe.

“In the US for example, it has become common to hear the average person refer to people seeking asylum as illegal aliens or illegal immigrants. How can a human being be illegal?” 

“It’s dehumanising and paves the way for the gross mistreatment of people seeking asylum.”

By using ’people seeking asylum’, we reject the hostility and injustice of the rhetoric.

Reason 3: Stressing the action and challenges

Using ‘people seeking asylum’ underscores the action people are taking—the ongoing process of searching for safety and protection. 

Phuong emphasises, “People seeking asylum often face precarious situations, forcing them into survival mode. It’s crucial to see them as individuals standing up and acting with hopes, strengths, and resilience”.

The power of words

Choosing to say ‘people seeking asylum’ instead of ‘asylum seekers’ invites empathy.

“The use of person-centred language is a crucial first step towards achieving collective aspirational outcomes. By acknowledging the inherent worth and agency of each individual – irrespective of legal status – we create a space for dialogue, collaboration, and shared vision”, adds Phuong. 

Words matter. By using them thoughtfully, we can help create a safer and more just society.

Read related articles:

Facts over fear: Tackling 10 myths about people seeking asylum

What’s the difference between a person seeking asylum and a refugee