This book investigates the process by which humanitarian migration is framed as a national security threat rather than a human rights obligation. Scott D. Watson, an expert in international relations and security studies, utilizes a constructivist framework to analyze how political rhetoric and policy shifts in Western liberal democracies have transformed the perception of asylum seekers. By examining the intersection of state sovereignty and humanitarianism, the author argues that the securitization of migration serves to justify restrictive border policies and the erosion of international protection norms.

Scholars in the field of migration studies frequently cite this work as a critical examination of the intersection between security policy and human rights. Experts highlight the author's rigorous application of constructivist theory to contemporary border control practices.