refugee

by definition, a refugee is fleeing war, political oppression, or religious persecution. "Refugee" is not interchangeable with "immigrant" (someone who leaves their country voluntarily) and it is not used for people who have been in a country long enough to be settled. "Migrants" move to another country for reasons other than conflict and persecution. Internally displaced people seek safety in other parts of their own country. “Asylum seekers” ask for international protection from conflict and persecution. “Returnees” are those who have returned home after being displaced. “Exiles” have been thrown out or forced to flee authoritarian regimes. See also asylum seeker, emigrant/immigrant, illegal alien/illegal/illegal immigrant, migrant.