“Refugee”

A person who, owing to a fear of persecution, is outside the country of their nationality (or residence if the person has no nationality) and is unable or unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country or return to it.

Generally, any person outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on the person’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. For a legal definition of refugee, see section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).