To Be Stuck in ‘Legal Limbo’: Amina Osman’s Research on Asylum Seekers

Forced migration, asylum delays and global xenophobia have been topical discussions in mainstream media for the better part of the 21st century- from the USA's varying and complex policies, to the rise of alt-right governments in Europe as a response to increased immigration -illegal or otherwise- the world has been forced to reckon with and attempt to resolve the rise in displaced people.

As of June 2024, 122.6 million people, about double the population of South Africa, were globally displaced. To ensure their own safety, most of these individuals had no other option than to seek asylum. But what happened to them once they did?  This question was at the heart of Amina Osman’s research presentation at the Oxbridge African Scholars Summit on February 22, 2025. Her incredible and impassioned presentation impressed the judges and audience alike, ensuring she received fourth place out of eighteen competitors.

Pictured: Amina Osman

A scholarship holder at the University of Oxford reading for the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, Osman’s research is deeply personal.

Having worked in refugee advocacy and knowing and seeing close friends wait over a decade to be granted refugee status she understands firsthand how,

'Asylum delays leave people in a legal limbo, unable to work, access healthcare, or move forward with their lives.’

As evidenced by her responses in the following Q&A, Osman has a deep desire to bring to light the experiences of asylum seekers and work towards upending the bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from obtaining refugee status. 

What inspired you to do research on the asylum-seeking process?

'I want to understand why these backlogs happen, what policies contribute to them, and most importantly, how we can fix them. Asylum is supposed to be a right, but without fair and efficient processing, it risks becoming an empty promise. My research seeks to challenge this status quo and push for meaningful reform.'

What has been the most challenging part of your research?

‘One of the biggest challenges is navigating the lack of transparency in asylum processing. Governments often do not release detailed statistics on backlogs, and policies are constantly shifting, making it difficult to track patterns over time. Additionally, asylum is an inherently political issue, so gathering objective, data-driven insights require cutting through layers of bureaucracy and policy rhetoric.

cc: Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Another challenge is balancing efficiency and fairness. Many governments push for faster asylum decisions, but speed should never come at the cost of denying asylum seekers’ the protection they need.’

Osman’s goals as a researcher are twofold: (1) ‘challenge [the] status quo and push for meaningful reform’ in the asylum-seeking process, and (2) ‘identify solutions that reduce delays while ensuring asylum seekers receive a fair and just process.’

 Along with presenting these goals, her participation at the summit as a scholar in Refugee and Migration Studies was critical as African representation in the field is low.

In an astute remark, she noted that

‘despite the fact that Africa hosts one of the largest displaced populations globally…the dominant narratives and policies are shaped by institutions in the Global North, which often fail to center African perspectives and lived experiences.’

Amina Osman presenting at the Oxbridge Africa Summit

Osman believes that ‘Africans must take the lead in shaping migration policy and research, and that starts with visibility and engagement,’ and to encourage this, she has sought to ‘mentor and support incoming African researchers, helping [to] create more spaces where [their] voices are not just included but prioritised.’