How do pandemics and natural disasters affect the treatment of migrants and refugees? Pandemics and natural disasters place strain on regimes and their ability to govern, often resulting in increased restrictions on civil society and decreased respect for human rights. Migrant and refugee populations would be the most vulnerable and thus experience elevated levels of human rights violations. We argue that there are two mechanisms that could counteract the desire or perceived need to limit civil liberties and decrease government respect for human rights. The first mechanism relates to state capacity. States with high levels of state capacity will be more likely to be able to absorb these exogenous shocks and be able to function with minimal interruptions to their standard practices. The second mechanism relates to the presence of a robust civil society. Civil society groups can help bridge the gap in government performance relating to the challenges posed by pandemics or natural disasters. Using data on pandemics, natural disasters, and human rights practices within states, including those of migrant and refugee populations, we expect to find much support for our arguments relating to the ability of state capacity and civil society organizations to mitigate human rights abuses.