As the government develops new regulations set to be implemented by spring of next year, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced on Monday that she would “temporarily” suspend new applications for the refugee family reunion route.
She argued that the system must be managed and controlled according to fair and effective rules rather than by organized crime smuggler gangs, which results in chaos and exploitation.
If a person seeking asylum who has been granted an indefinite stay in the country can present evidence of a relationship lasting at least two years, they can bring in their partner.
Cooper told the House of Commons that the rising demand for housing across the nation had increased as a result of family reunion applications, with many requesting relocation within a month. One of the proposed changes would require longer application waiting periods.
Refugee organizations criticized the decision. Safe Passage, a charity that helps children who are refugees, accused the government of “faking far-right pressure,” calling on it to put children who are fleeing war and persecution in nations like Afghanistan, Sudan, and Iran “trapped in danger.”
SHOCKING: All new applications for family reunions of refugees have been temporarily suspended by the UK government.
The children we support will suffer the most as a result, as they have been denied access to almost every safe route to join their loved ones. pic. twitter.com/YErszylNft
The Refugee Council’s chief executive, Enver Solomon, stated that “these changes will only push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers in an effort to reunite with loved ones.”
far right stomping on anger
Cooper made the announcement as Labour struggled to make a political return to Parliament following a rough summer break with anti-immigration protesters regularly threatening hotels in various parts of England, most recently Epping, northeast of London, on Sunday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he will accelerate plans to empty the asylum hotels after being under pressure from Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK party, which has sparked outrage over people arriving in small boats over the English Channel from France.
The government has been alleged to be moving too slowly, but it has been demonstrating that it is addressing a problem left by Conservative-led administrations by facilitating trade agreements with other countries and expediting asylum applications.
A “one in, one out” pilot scheme will be put in place between the UK and France later this month, according to Cooper, with the former sending refugees and asylum seekers there in exchange for approved applicants.
According to her, “applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route, with the first cases being subject to strict security checks,” adding that “family groups” would have priority under the agreement with France.
According to Cooper, the government will establish a new independent body to handle appeals because tens of thousands of asylum seekers are awaiting a decision.
