There is a huge difference between a refugee and a migrant. 
Today, Immigrant -- is a catch all term for anyone not born here. And the term immigrant is a pejorative -  a label used to shame, to reject.
In my day, we didn't use the term immigrant. We called some one Aunt, Uncle, my cousin... we openly claimed our relationships. We described the circumstance, He and his wife and child walked across Hungary to escape the communists. This was language people understood, related to and probably knew a dozen or more in the same exodus. 
It was World War II that impacted Europe and Middle Europeans. 
It makes a difference... where someone came from and when....

WHY, someone comes is also linked to HOW.  An asylum seeker is someone who is in the process of 'earning that title' of refugee. A refugee is awarded that title after extensive research and documentation and mainly, while still outside the country. The Fed awards it.