UK Temporarily Suspends Refugee Family Reunion Applications Amid Border Policy Changes

UK Temporarily Suspends Refugee Family Reunion Applications Amid Border Policy Changes
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The UK government has temporarily suspended new applications under the dedicated refugee family reunion scheme, BBC reported. This move aligns refugees with the standard immigration rules that require meeting income thresholds and accommodation standards, as well as English language proficiency for family members.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the existing scheme, which allowed refugees to bring family without conditions, was outdated compared to policies in other European countries like Denmark and Switzerland, where refugees must wait two years before applying to reunite with family.

Cooper explained that many refugee families in the UK face homelessness upon arrival, with over a quarter of cases in some local authorities linked to refugee family reunions. The government has committed to revising family reunion policies further, with reforms expected by spring next year.

The announcement comes amid heightened political and public scrutiny of immigration policies, following a summer marked by protests against the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers and increasing small boat crossings. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the government’s response, calling minor adjustments insufficient and urging the revival of the previously scrapped Rwanda plan to deter illegal Channel crossings.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed a desire to accelerate plans to phase out the use of hotels for asylum seekers, reflecting local opposition to such accommodations. Additionally, the government is reviewing the application of the European Convention on Human Rights in immigration cases, amidst calls from some political quarters to reconsider the UK’s commitment to the treaty.