Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Let Me Be a Refugee

Administrative Justice and the Politics of Asylum in the United States, Canada, and Australia

Bibliographic Data

ID20003104
AuthorsRebecca Hamlin (0000-0002-7241-5024, corresponding author)
Year2014
Pages248
Publication date2014-09-16
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueLet Me Be a Refugee (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199373307.001.0001
OpenAlexW4251669122
Open LibraryOL27555836M
ISBN9780199373307
LanguageEN
Citations received99

Why do decision-makers in similar liberal democracies interpret the same legal definition in very different ways? International law provides states with a common definition of a refugee as well as guidelines outlining how asylum claims should be decided. Yet, the processes by which countries determine who should be granted refugee status look strikingly different, even across nations with many political, cultural, geographical, and institutional commonalities. This book compares the refugee status determination (RSD) regimes of three popular asylum seeker destinations – the United States, Canada, and Australia. Despite similarly high levels of political resistance to accepting asylum seekers across these three states, once asylum seekers cross their borders, they access three very different systems. These differences are significant both in terms of asylum seekers’ experience of the process and in terms of their likelihood of being found to be a refugee. The book draws from a multi-method analysis of all three countries, including a year of fieldwork with in-depth interviews of policy-makers and asylum-seeker advocates, observations of refugee status determination hearings, and a large-scale case analysis. It concludes that cross-national differences have less to do with political debates over admission and border control policy than with the level of insulation the administrative decision-making agency enjoys from either political interference or judicial review. Administrative justice is conceptualized and organized differently in every state, and so states vary in how they draw the line between refugee and non-refugee

Agency (philosophy) · Asylum seeker · Comprehensive Plan of Action · Criminology · Economic Justice · Political science · Politics · Refugee · Social science · Sociology · State (computer science) · Law · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Political Systems and Governance · Public Administration · Administrative procedure · Australia · canada · Civil rights · Comparative · Courts · Government · Legal status, laws · Political Freedom & Security · politics and government · Refugees · Refugees, legal status, laws, etc · Right of Asylum · united states

  • What is (not) distinct about asylum seekers’ violence exposures? New insights from a novel network-based survey

    Open Access•A Weitzman, Ana Lucía Fernandez Fernandez et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2026

  • Institutional analyses of refugee protection

    Open Access•Rebecca Hamlin•Journal of Refugee Studies•2022

  • Asylum adjudication system

    Open Access•Valeria Ferraris, Teresa Consoli•Oñati Socio-legal Series•2022

  • Who Is a Refugee in Jordan? Hierarchies and Exclusions in the Refugee Recognition Regime

    Open Access•Lou Turner•Journal of Refugee Studies•2023

  • Asylum access adjudication

    Open Access•Alice Lacchei, Mădălina Moraru•Journal of Refugee Studies•2025

  • Refugee Illegality

    Open Access•Mert Pekşen•Journal of Refugee Studies•2023

  • Artificial Intelligence for a Reduction of False Denials in Refugee Claims

    Open Access•Hilary Evans Cameron, Alvin Goldfarb et al.•Journal of Refugee Studies•2021

  • Performing for multiple audiences

    Open Access•Antje Ellermann, Mireille Paquet•Migration Studies•2026

  • Offshoring the Border

    Open Access•Katherine H Tennis•Journal of Refugee Studies•2019

  • Refugee sousveillance

    Open Access•Smita Misra•Communication Culture and Critique•2024

  • Data-driven futures of international refugee law

    Open Access•William Hamilton Byrne, Thomas Gammeltoft-Hansen et al.•Journal of Refugee Studies•2023

  • Explaining the Politics of Security

    Open Access•Sefa Secen•Journal of Global Security Studies•2020

  • Deporting children

    Open Access•Chiara Galli, Tanalís Padilla et al.•Social Forces•2025

  • Gatekeeping in asylum interviews

    Open Access•Han–Nae Yu, Han-Nae Yu•Journal of Refugee Studies•2025

  • Understanding the politics of refugee law and policy making

    Open Access•Daniel Ghezelbash, Keyvan Dorostkar•Journal of Refugee Studies•2023

  • Imagined Integration

    Open Access•Mariri Niino, William L Allen•Policy Studies Journal•2026

  • Direct and structural injustice against refugees

    Open Access•Bradley Hillier‐smith•Journal of Social Philosophy•2023

  • Law enforcement agents at European borders

    Open Access•Rut Bermejo-Casado, Isabel Bazaga-Fernández et al.•Political Research Exchange•2025

  • Organisational determinants of administrative decision-making quality in European asylum offices

    Open Access•Bob Mertens•Comparative Migration Studies•2026

  • Regular matters

    Open Access•Laura Affolter•Comparative Migration Studies•2021

  • Asylum Seekers’ Trajectories of Exclusion

    Open Access•Ana Sofia Branco, Romana Xerez•Social Inclusion•2024

  • Foreign Criminals,” the Human Rights Act, and the New Constitutional Politics of the United Kingdom

    Open Access•Rebecca Hamlin•Journal of Law and Courts•2016

  • Political stories

    Rebecca Hamlin, I Bloemraad et al.•Politics Groups and Identities•2015

  • Distance, absence and advocacy

    Open Access•Shauna Labman•Dialogues in Human Geography•2019

  • The immigrant versus the state

    Open Access•Sule Tomkinson, Mireille Paquet et al.•International Journal of Law in…•2023

  • Untangling the Concept of Adversarial Legalism

    Jeb Barnes, Thomas F Burke•Annual Review of Law and Social…•2020

  • Countries you go, asylum adjudication you find.” Asylum appeals implementation arrangements, actors' discretion, and organizational practices

    Open Access•Cristina Dallara, Alice Lacchei•Review of Policy Research•2024

  • Dancing around gender expression and sex talk

    Cyril Ghosh•Journal of Human Rights•2024

  • The Global Challenge of Mass Migration and Asylum

    Karen N Breidahl, Evelyn Z Brodkin et al.•Journal of Comparative Policy…•2024

  • Asylum Adjudication and Street-Level Discretion

    Open Access•Jonathan Miaz•Journal of Comparative Policy…•2024

  • Exile, Asylum and Refugees in Modern European History

    Peter Gatrell•European Review of History Revue…•2022

  • Congressional Constraint? The Review of In Absentia Immigration Removal Orders in Federal Circuit Courts

    Open Access•Christina L Boyd, R F Carlos et al.•Political Research Quarterly•2023

  • The externalization of Australian refugee policy and the costs for queer asylum seekers and refugees

    Jaz Dawson•Australian Journal Of International…•2020

  • The Politics of “Doing Exactly Nothing”

    Open Access•Azar Masoumi•Feminist Legal Studies•2019

  • The Revolving Door of Im/Migration

    Open Access•Azar Masoumi•Social & Legal Studies•2023

  • Policy preferences in response to large forced migration inflows

    Open Access•William L Allen, Isabel Ruiz et al.•World Development•2023

  • Introduction

    René Kreichauf, Birgit Glorius•Urban Geography•2021

  • The Role of Rights-Based Social Work in Contemporary Latin American Diasporas

    Open Access•Maria De Lourdes Alves Lima Zanatta, Erick Da Luz Scherf•Journal of Human Rights and…•2019

  • The Sociology of Refugee Migration

    David Scott Fitzgerald, Rawan Arar•Annual Review of Sociology•2018

  • Screening for Asylum at Airports

    Open Access•Fabrice Langrognet•Social Policy and Administration•2024

  • Targetability as Credibility

    Open Access•Angela Y Mcclean•International Migration Review•2026

  • Leaving the Devil You Know

    Open Access•Jonathan T Hiskey, Abby Córdova et al.•Latin American Research Review•2022

  • The Violence of Asylum

    Open Access•A Hsin, Aptekar et al.•Social Forces•2022

  • Through the Lens of Perception

    Open Access•Flávia Rodrigues De Castro•International Migration•2025

  • Judicial Specialization and Deference in Asylum Cases on the U.S. Courts of Appeals

    Open Access•Maureen Stobb, Joshua B Kennedy•American Political Science Review•2023

  • Les réfugiés LGBTI

    Ahmed Hamila•Gouvernement et action publique•2022

  • Hospitality or hostility

    Open Access•Polly J Diven, Stefan Immerfall•Zeitschrift für Vergleichende…•2018

  • We have our own kitchen »

    Damian Rosset1•Politique et Sociétés•2019

  • Trois nuances de l’expertise stratégique

    Sule Tomkinson•Politique et Sociétés•2019

  • Le Droit et ses médiations

    Jonathan Miaz•Politique et Sociétés•2019

  • Le guichet du HCR, entre standardisation bureaucratique et ethos humanitaire

    Pauline Brücker•Politique et Sociétés•2019

  • Willful testimonial injustice as a form of epistemic injustice

    Open Access•Hilkje C Hänel•European Journal of Philosophy•2025

  • Hierarchy in the Politics of Migration

    Open Access•Angie M Bautista-Chavez, Estefanía Castañeda-Pérez et al.•International Migration Review•2024

  • Exploring the “Liberal Paradox” from the Inside

    Open Access•Lena Johannesson, Livia Johannesson•International Migration Review•2018

  • The Map and the Territory

    Open Access•Tone Maia Liodden•International Migration Review•2022

  • Espacios de excepción y tecnosecuritización de la movilidad humana en Norteamérica. Del control corpóreo al algorítmico-digital

    Open Access•Agustín Morales Mena•Revista Mexicana de Ciencias…•2024

  • Norm-busting

    David Scott Fitzgerald, Asher Hirsch•Third World Quarterly•2022

  • Mapping Immigration Policy at the Southern Border

    Open Access•Vicki Lens, Samantha Kanelstein•Administration & Society•2021

  • More than advocates

    Open Access•Nicholas A R Fraser•Canadian Public Administration•2022

  • Who are you afraid of and why? Inside the black box of refugee tribunals

    Open Access•Sule Tomkinson•Canadian Public Administration•2018

  • Do refugees and asylees have diverging trajectories? Immigrant status categories and long-term employment

    Open Access•Rennie Lee, Janeen Baxter et al.•New Community•2026

  • Why courts are the life buoys of migrant rights

    Open Access•Natascha Zaun, Martin Leroch et al.•Journal of European Public Policy•2024

  • Asylum seekers in the machinery of the state

    Open Access•Pierre Georges Van Wolleghem, Hakan G Sicakkan•European Union Politics•2022

  • Ideology, International Law, and the INS

    Open Access•Rebecca Hamlin•Polity•2015

  • The Role of Humanitarianism in Shaping Public Attitudes Toward Refugees

    Open Access•Nicholas A R Fraser, Go Murakami•Political Psychology•2022

  • Mixed messages & bounded rationality

    Open Access•Maureen Stobb, Banks Miller et al.•Policy Studies Journal•2023

  • Implementation leeway in the Dublin system

    Théoda Woeffray•Journal of European Public Policy•2024

  • Forced Displacement and Asylum Policy in the Developing World

    Open Access•Christopher W Blair, G Grossman et al.•International Organization•2022

  • Immigration Bureaucrats and the Development of the Canada-United States Safe Third Country Agreement

    Open Access•Kiran Banerjee, Geoffrey Cameron•Canadian Journal of Political…•2025

  • Between sacred gift and profane exchange

    Open Access•Jaeeun Kim•Theory and Society•2022

  • Other-Regarding Behaviors and Attitudes toward Asylum Seekers

    Open Access•Burak Sonmez, Sergio Lo Iacono•Socius Sociological Research for…•2022

  • Preserving Law and Order

    Open Access•Angela Y Mcclean•International Political Sociology•2024

  • Who Controls the Immigration Bureaucracy? The Relative Influence of the Three Branches Over Asylum Policy Implementation

    Open Access•Maureen Stobb, Banks Miller et al.•American Politics Research•2023

  • Power and Public Administration

    Open Access•Sule Tomkinson•Public Integrity•2024

  • Legal Mobilization and Juridification

    Open Access•Susan M Sterett•Law & Policy•2016

  • Under thequasi‐judicialstate

    Open Access•George E Clark, Gabrielle Clark•Law & Policy•2023

  • Quality over quantity

    Open Access•Hillary Mellinger•Law & Policy•2021

  • Refusal as political practice

    Open Access•Carole Mcgranahan•American Ethnologist•2018

  • Beyond the Queue

    Open Access•Mireille Paquet, Anna K Boucher et al.•Journal of Immigrant & Refugee…•2025

  • We Are the Real, Original Refugees

    Gary Tran, Grace Tran•Journal of Immigrant & Refugee…•2022

  • Visitor Visa Policy Changes and Mexico-Canada Migration

    Ian Van Haren, Cristina Masferrer•Journal of Immigrant & Refugee…•2024

  • Violence Here and Violence There

    Angela S García, Yunuen Rodriguez-Rodgriguez et al.•Journal of Immigrant & Refugee…•2022

  • Introduction

    Lamis Abdelaaty, Rebecca Hamlin•Journal of Immigrant & Refugee…•2022

  • Maternal Becoming In The Vietnamese Transdiaspora

    Jocelyn Frelier•Diaspora A Journal of Transnational…•2022

  • Reluctant border agents

    Mert Pekşen•Citizenship Studies•2022

  • Just another benefit? Administrative judges' constructions of sameness and difference in asylum adjudications

    Open Access•Lena Johannesson•Citizenship Studies•2022

  • I balance suffering(s)

    Open Access•Ramy Magdy, Mai Yasser•Digest of Middle East Studies•2024

  • Introduction

    Open Access•Susan M Sterett, Vitor Martins Dias et al.•Law & Society Review•2025

  • Hollow law and utilitarian law

    Open Access•Lili Dao•Law & Society Review•2023

  • Disqualified Bodies

    Open Access•Seán Columb•Law & Society Review•2017

  • Constructing and contesting state-urban borders

    James G Johnson•New Community•2022

  • Survival and integration

    P Palmgren•New Community•2017

  • From the asylum official's point of view

    Katherine Jensen•New Community•2023

  • Deservingness in context

    Andrea Lawlor, Mireille Paquet•New Community•2022

  • Recognizing international protection. How institutional arrangements affect asylum decisions

    Open Access•Pierre Georges Van Wolleghem, Hakan G Sicakkan•New Community•2025

  • Article 1F and Anthropological Evidence

    Open Access•J R Campbell•Anthropological Forum•2023

  • Communicative resources and credibility in public discourse on refugees

    Open Access•Laura Smith-Khan•Language in Society•2019

  • The epistemic logic of asylum screening

    Katherine Jensen•Ethnic and Racial Studies•2018

  • A rite of reverse passage

    C Galli•Ethnic and Racial Studies•2018

Unique citing works99
Citations per year9
Citation span2015 - 2026 (12)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 98
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae