What must a person demonstrate to qualify as a refugee?

To qualify as a refugee, an individual must demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution based on specific protected grounds, such as race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. This means that the individual has credible concerns that they would face persecution if they were to return to their home country.

Option C reflects this requirement accurately. Demonstrating a credible fear of future persecution is essential to establishing the basis for refugee status, as the refugee definition under international and U.S. law primarily hinges on the individual's potential exposure to harm rather than past experiences alone.

The other options do not correctly align with the legal definition of a refugee. For example, while past harm (as mentioned in option A) can be an important element in assessing an individual’s credibility and the potential for future persecution, it is not a standalone requirement for refugee status. Option B incorrectly states that a person must not have experienced harm in the past; this is not a criterion for refugee status. Option D, which suggests that a person must have lost their nationality, is also inaccurate, as refugees can be nationals of their country who are seeking protection due to a valid fear of persecution rather than due to the loss of nationality. Thus, the necessity of proving