This chapter examines the relationship between identity politics and forced migration in Southeast Asia and shows how ethnic, religious, or political tensions historically and contextually determine migration patterns. The enormous ethnic diversity of the region (groups such as the Rohingya live in Myanmar, the Karen in Thailand, the Montagnard in Cambodia, and the Moro in the Philippines) is an important reason for forced migration both within countries and across borders. Ethnically and religiously motivated conflicts have in most cases led to persecution, statelessness, and forced displacement. Case studies on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, ethnoreligious conflicts in Indonesia and the fate of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge illustrate state-led identity politics that corner minority groups and lead to displacement. This chapter assesses these patterns of forced migration and suggests strategies for policymakers and researchers to secure the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons. This chapter also emphasizes the need for regional cooperation and human rights-based policies to mitigate the ongoing migration crises in Southeast Asia by understanding the historical and sociopolitical context of identity-based conflicts.