What Happened to Europe's Promise of Refuge?

Ten years after Europe’s refugee crisis, the continent is not only changing how it treats asylum seekers—it is shifting the very idea of who deserves protection. The piece looks back to Jan. 20, 2016, when the author arrived on Lesbos, the Greek island at the front line of the European refugee crisis, and began volunteering. From there, it traces how attitudes and policies evolved over the decade, affecting eligibility, expectations, and the overall framework for asylum. The article frames this as a broader transformation beyond logistics or case processing, arguing that the “promise” of protection has been redefined over time.