refoulement

noun
re·​foule·​ment | \ rə-ˌfül-ˈmän How to pronounce refoulement (audio) \

Definition of refoulement

: the act of forcing a refugee or asylum seeker to return to a country or territory where he or she is likely to face persecution Since 1980, United States law has defined refugees as people with a "well-founded fear of persecutions" in their home country and thus entitled to sanctuary or political asylum. To send them home would risk committing the diplomatic sin of refoulement—forcibly subjecting them to peril.The New York Times — see also non-refoulement

Examples of refoulement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Escontrias, her lawyer, said Ricci was referred to a third non-refoulement interview during her hearing, which CBS News was barred from observing. Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, ""I fear for our lives": Asylum seekers forced to wait in Mexico face danger and desperation," 13 Aug. 2019

First Known Use of refoulement

1954, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for refoulement

borrowed from French, literally, "turning away, rejection," going back to Middle French, from refouler "to force back, push in" (from re- re- + fouler "to crush, full (fabric)," going back to Old French) + -ment -ment — more at full entry 5

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