Every day, hundreds and thousands of people leave their homes in search of safety. These individuals often flee due to political persecution, territorial conflicts, gender-based violence, war, or other causes. However, when they arrive in a place where they finally feel safe, the borders do not remain behind at the checkpoints—they encounter new barriers, less visible but just as restrictive.

These are the invisible borders faced by many asylum seekers: social, legal, and even emotional walls that prevent them from accessing a dignified life. This often happens even in countries that publicly defend human rights.

^{The right to seek asylum: a principle under pressure}

The right to seek asylum is established in several international legal instruments, such as the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1967 Protocol, among others. Nonetheless, in practice, some countries have adopted policies aimed at containing migration flows, giving rise to a paradox: asylum is recognized as a right, but multiple barriers prevent people from exercising it.

Today, certain countries have outsourced their protection responsibilities to third states, making it harder for the asylum process to be effective. In other cases, asylum seekers spend long periods in detention centers or face prolonged waiting times without access to legal aid or clear information.

^{Legal barriers: bureaucracy and lack of protection}

One of the most significant obstacles asylum seekers faces is bureaucracy. A person fleeing in search of protection often finds themselves lost in complex and lengthy procedures, with little access to free legal support or, in the worst cases, relying on poorly trained interpreters whose help may compromise the ability to present a strong case.

To this is added the uncertainty of waiting—sometimes for years—between submitting an application and receiving a decision. This legal limbo often prevents asylum seekers from studying, working, or leading a normal life, generating instability that further erodes the mental health of those who have already experienced deeply traumatic events.

^{Social barriers: exclusion}

Once they arrive in a new country and file their asylum application, a new barrier emerges: the social border. In many countries, political and media narratives portray asylum seekers as a threat, feeding prejudice, xenophobia, and racism.

This stigmatizing discourse fosters fear and exclusion in public spaces such as schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Linguistic isolation, lack of support networks, and cultural distance make integration processes even more difficult.

Those belonging to vulnerable groups—such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, or ethnic minorities—are doubly marginalized, often facing daily exclusion, and at risk of trafficking, violence, or exploitation, even within the country that received them.

^{The invisible weight of exile}

Beyond the legal and social challenges, there is another, deeper dimension: the emotional. Someone who seeks asylum has fled a situation where their life was at risk. Many carry the weight of family losses, severe trauma, or experiences of torture or violence.

This emotional burden is compounded by uncertainty, uprootedness, and anxiety about an unknown future. It is not uncommon for asylum seekers to also experience survivor’s guilt—a painful emotional response felt by those who survived extreme circumstances like war or persecution while others did not.

Survivor’s guilt often arises when someone feels remorse for having lived through a situation that others did not survive. Many asylum seekers feel this acutely when they’ve lost friends or family—sometimes during the journey—or know that others were trapped or killed in the same events that forced them to flee.

In many countries, mental health care for asylum seekers is inadequate or inaccessible. Shelters or reception centers often lack the proper conditions for recovery or emotional well-being.

^{What does the international human rights system say?}

From a legal standpoint, asylum seekers must be treated with respect, dignity, and without discrimination. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution.

However, many countries have implemented deterrence-based policies, designed to make life harder for asylum seekers rather than protect their rights. This approach has eroded the principles of protection and solidarity.

That’s why the discourse around asylum and migration must shift. It must move beyond numbers and statistics to recognize that behind every asylum application is a human being who was forced to leave everything behind in search of safety.

To guarantee the basic human rights of all asylum seekers, it is necessary for countries to provide dignified reception conditions, ensure efficient and fair procedures, with access to quality interpretation and legal defense, promote social awareness and inclusion, reducing stigmas and fostering empathy.

Most asylum seekers will face invisible barriers long after crossing physical borders. It is crucial to replace exclusionary rhetoric with inclusive narratives that recognize one key truth: human rights are universal, and they do not depend on nationality or passports.