Mixed migration flows and the obstacles to the refugees protection

Abstract The paper discusses mixed migration flows considering its impacts on the requests of refugee status recognition, its legal framework in the transit and destination countries and, specially, the protection to refugees. The National States have, invariably, been treating international migration in a general way, disregarding specific and individuals elements that have motivated them. The consequence of this modus operandi is that many refugee applicants, who use the same mechanisms and routes as the so-called voluntary migrants, have disadvantages in the access to the right of recognition of their requests. Such reality have affected the debates on migratory flows in both the academy and in the refugee protection and advocacy bodies, such is the case of UNHCR and the American System developed after the Cartagena Declaration. Accordingly, based on documents from the international organizations and in the debates carried out in the Academia, the paper will analyze the mixed flows and the way these questions concerning the topic have been debated in the international arena, presenting good practices and solutions that can assure to the refugees the protection to which they are entitled.