The refugee family reunion scheme used to allow people granted refugee status in the UK to apply for their immediate family members to join them, including their children, recognising that family unity is integral to protection, stability and integration. The government abruptly suspended this scheme last September, and now proposes a much more restrictive approach.
Find out more about why this matters by reading Sara and Omer’s story on our campaign media page.
In March, over 700 faith leaders wrote to the Home Secretary asking her to reconsider these proposals, and recognise that every family deserves safety. The government has now responded, but the family reunion scheme is still suspended.
We’re now asking if you can contact your MP to highlight the letter and share your concerns. You may be a faith leader who has signed the letter (if you haven’t yet, please do so below!) but everyone can take this to their MP, not just faith leaders. You can either write to your MP or ask to meet with them in person.
Points to raise in your letter or meeting:
- explain why you support refugee family reunion. If it directly affects you or members of your family or community, you may wish to share something of its impact.
- highlight the letter written to the Home Secretary by over 700 faith leaders in March. You can download a copy of the letter here, and you might wish to provide your MP with a copy.
- ask your MP to raise your concerns with the government, and show support for Safe Passage’s legal case against the Home Office
- encourage your MP to get involved in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Migration.
Please let us know how you get on.
Want to know more about family reunion? Read our explainer here.
Read, sign, and share our family reunion campaign letter here.
Find our campaign case studies, and social media assets here.