We are shocked and saddened by the devastating announcement made by Yvette Cooper tonight and what this means for separated refugee families, our clients and their communities. We believe all families should be able to live together if they choose. No one plans to become a refugee. No one plans to be separated from their partners and children.
Family reunion is a route described by the government as ‘safe and legal’ the type of route they are looking to support access to. A route that should provide protection to those who most need it. It is not an easy way in, the criteria are narrow, it takes months of emotional investment, lengthy applications, gathering evidence and a significant financial burden on families. Over half those granted family reunion visas in 2024 were children. (1)
As the Home Secretary said; ‘The current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict and persecution.’ Today it continues to help those same families as intended. There is no lesser need now than before and those accessing, or trying to access refugee family reunion routes are largely women and children in circumstances that no one would ever want for their loved ones. (2)
Our experience tells us that family reunion applicants come from places we see daily in the news as new horrors impact those who live there. Few of us could imagine what it would be like to have your family there, waiting, eligible to come to the UK, as they apply for documents to allow them to travel legally. Watching bombardments, violence and famine on the news and anxiously waiting for updates.
The temporary suspension of this route will have hard and immediate impact. On the mother who asked us how to start the process to reunite with her seven year old son , the Afghan father who wanted advice on completing the application form, a family who became separated fleeing violence in Sudan. Individual people, those who have been granted asylum in our country because they have a specific risk of persecution, have had the route to bringing their family to safety cut off. Removal of access to these routes will not stop families from wanting to be together and will only push more people into making unsafe boat crossings, risking their lives to be able to live together as a family.
“It’s so painful to be separated with your child, it tortured both of us mentally. In fact, I suffered from severe depression and anxiety, but I can now testify that I’m OK. I’ve not had any depression and anxiety since he came.” Mother after reunion with her 10 year old son.“
We know that family reunion supports integration. That the moment a family reunite, in safety they can start thinking about settling, working and building a life in the UK. We know that just yesterday people were speaking to their family members, making plans to learn, to grow their career and to support their children to achieve and that this hope has now been taken away.
We will do everything we can to challenge this decision and reduce the impact on refugee families.
As we cannot offer immigration advice we can’t comment on individual applications for family reunion, submitted or not yet submitted. Anyone with concerns or questions can contact enquiries@togethernow.org.uk and we will share any relevant links or guidance.
(1) Source – Home Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-march-2024/safe-and-legal-humanitarian-routes-to-the-uk#family-reunion
(2) All families Together Now have supported in 2025 (81) have involved vulnerable women and children fleeing dangerous or unstable living situations. 19% (35) of these were separated children travelling to reunite with a parent. 40% (32) of applications were from displaced families and the remaining families faced significant risk from war or persecution in their home country.
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