Ban on family reunion has left refugees in grave danger, home secretary warned
The home secretary has warned that preventing refugees from being able to bring their immediate family to the UK would put people in grave danger and hinder the integration of those already here.
It was announced in September that new applications were temporarily banned from refugees who wanted to bring their loved ones to the UK. The move was condemned by charities at the time, who warned that blocking the route to family reunification would push people into the arms of people smugglers.
New conditions for refugees are expected to be announced next spring and may impose new financial or language requirements to reflect changes to other legal migration routes.
New research from the charity The Helen Bamber Foundation, which has supported refugees with its past applications, warns that thousands of families, including children, are in great danger with the closure of the program.
Before the scheme was suspended, the charity had supported at least three clients whose children died just days before they were reunited.
In one case, a father fleeing persecution and torture in Ethiopia found his eldest son kidnapped while awaiting a decision on his reunification application.
Before the pause was announced, people could apply to bring immediate family members, such as their partner or young children, to the UK when they received refugee status.
Kamena Dorling, Head of Policy at the Helen Bamber Foundation, said: “With each passing day, the risk of being harmed, killed or kidnapped increases. Extending the suspension until next spring and then tightening the rules threatens to turn temporary separation into a permanent loss for parents, children, partners and siblings.”
Another refugee described his experience of separation: “I live in constant misery [my family] facing daily threats and extreme challenges. “The emotional toll on me has been enormous: My mental health has deteriorated, I suffer from severe anxiety and depression and I now have high blood pressure from ongoing stress, and I have concerns for their safety.”
The charity warns that suspending the program would worsen refugees’ mental health and exacerbate symptoms of depression and PTSD.
Ms Dorling added: “Many of our clients find it almost impossible to begin treatment when their families are in danger, despite desperately needing therapy. “They often express intense feelings of guilt for being safe when their loved ones are not, and feel they do not deserve recovery or stability.
“This emotional distress can seriously hinder their ability to rebuild their lives, learn a new language, pursue education or employment, and be part of their community.”
Yvette Cooper, who announced she was taking a break while she was home secretary, said people smuggling gangs were using family reunification rules to encourage illegal crossings into the UK.
20,817 refugee family reunification visas have been issued by June 2025. But charities argued the spike in applications could be partly explained by the Home Office working quickly through the asylum backlog, leading to more applications for refugee grants and families.
In the last decade, 92 percent of these visas were issued to women and children with refugee families.
Ms. Cooper argued that newly accepted refugees applied very quickly to bring their families here, with some applying while still staying at the hotel.
While the pause continues, refugees can in theory use other family routes, but only if the sponsor has a minimum annual income of £29,000, adequate accommodation and English language requirements.
Data shows that the average annual earnings of working refugees is £20,000 for men and £18,000 for women.
