London, United Kingdom, September 1, 2025 鈥 Responding to proposed suspension of Refugee Family Reunion Flora Alexander, 探花精选 UK Executive Director, said,
鈥淔amily reunion is one of the best routes to a migration system that is both humane and orderly. Whilst we await full details of the government鈥檚 proposals, the suspension of the existing family reunion route is deeply alarming, especially in the absence of sufficient alternative safe pathways. With global resettlement quotas collapsing - UNHCR estimates an 84% drop this year - family reunion remains one of the few viable options for refugees, particularly women and children, who are often left behind in dangerous settings and face heightened risks of violence and exploitation.
Family reunion also supports smoother integration - not only for those arriving, but for sponsoring family members, who can enable the emotional and practical support that is critical to refugees settling well into their new communities. By building on existing family networks and living arrangements, this route creates a more stable foundation for integration, easing the transition for new arrivals and reducing stress for families already in the UK.
We urge the government to think again, and protect access to family reunion, in line with its humanitarian commitments and the practical integration benefits this route offers. Narrowing access for people seeking to reunite with loved ones is not a solution to system pressures - it risks pushing more people toward dangerous journeys and represents a step away from compassion and common sense.鈥