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I don't exist in the present.
Presence is granted
to those who can afford it.
I exist in the past,
and sometimes in the future,
yet I am nothing but a nuance now and here.
My body is trapped between imaginaries,
my mind between what could have been
and what can never be.
I taste uncertainty in my gut, fear in my heart.
And still, I cannot live. Neither can I die.
T-PROTECT is an interdisciplinary study of the turn towards temporality and eventual return of refugees in the global migration and asylum regime. Temporary protection (TP) has been increasingly adopted across multiple countries either to displace the refugee status determination process defined under the 1951 Convention and 1976 Protocol for the large-scale arrivals or as an alternative for who may not qualify for asylum but are nonetheless fleeing potentially dangerous situations. Taking on the challenge of analysing the underlying motivations behind states’ turn towards temporary protection measures to govern migration and asylum, T-PROTECT examines how living under temporary protection regimes is shaping the life of third country nationals in USA, Mexico and SA, focusing on their access to rights and services, and the broader impact of these processes on their well-being. Furthermore T-PROTECT aims to reveal the sustainable alternatives to temporary protection that include and go beyond effective pathways for asylum applications, regularisation and socio-economic inclusion, analysing their potential for transferability to the European context. Despite widespread use over the past years, a comprehensive understanding of TP regimes remains under-researched. This project will challenge the dual narrative that TP either undermines asylum rights or provides practical solutions through an innovative theoretical framework.
This objective aims to make a significant contribution to the field by capturing the nuanced, lived experiences of temporary protection holders. It draws on secondary research in Los Angeles, USA, and generates original data in Mexico City, Mexico, and Cape Town, South Africa, to deepen understanding of these critical contexts.
This objective seeks to drive theoretical innovation by identifying the conditions under which temporary protection regimes either restrict or enhance access to rights and services. Using three sociological perspectives -socio-legal, socio-cultural, and socio-economic- the study will explore how these forces interact to shape the everyday realities of people living under temporary protection.
This objective aims to translate findings from the United States, Mexico, and South Africa into lessons and policy recommendations for evaluating the scope and application of the EU temporary protection regime and related systems. It will also identify existing and emerging sustainable alternatives to current temporary protection mechanisms. All assessments will be guided by the United Nations Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) to ensure alignment with international and human rights standards and to promote dignified, long-term solutions for all.
WP1 - Management and training (Duration: month: 1-36)
WP2 - Data collection (Duration: month: 3-34)
WP3 - Data analysis and Writing (Duration: month: 9-36)
WP4 Dissemination and Communication (Duration: 1-36)
ETHICS:
The project adheres to strict ethical guidelines and data protection regimes.
The project has been presented to the Bioethics Committee at the University of Barcelona for the evaluation of the Ethics and Data Management Plan on December, 4, 2025 (Acronym: T-PROTECT, Application Code: 00969-25: currently in evaluation).
SETTING UP THE NVIVO PROJECT:
This project utilises NVIVO software for the organisation and analysis of the qualitative data.
For more information on how to set up cases, case classifications and file classification prior to the fieldwork, please click on the NVIVO QDA page.
For more information send an email to sevdatunaboylu@ub.edu
