Under international law, refugees are defined as people who cross national borders to flee persecution.

Like many early immigrants, the Amish were fleeing religious persecution when they began arriving in 1727.

Among its early parishioners were sailors fleeing religious persecution in their home country.

And that was the country his parents had chosen as a haven after they fled persecution in the Ukraine.

Others, considered to be fleeing economic distress rather than political persecution, are returned to their country.

Just ask those who've fled poverty and persecution, risked their lives to get here.

Most are fleeing systematic persecution and have no desire to return.

Under the old international agreement, all Vietnamese boat people were considered refugees fleeing political or religious persecution.

His decision to flee paternal persecution rose from pride rather than fear.