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xBritish Red Cross report on Refugee Family Reunion
Date: 11th November 2025
Category:
Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children, Family reunification
The British Red Cross has released a powerful new report, “I Returned to Life,” highlighting why the UK’s refugee family reunion process must remain open and accessible. With the future of this vital protection route uncertain, the report underscores how reuniting families offers safety, stability, and hope to those rebuilding their lives after conflict and persecution. The Red Cross warns that proposed government changes—such as financial, language, or residence requirements—could make family reunion almost impossible, worsening risks for children and families while undermining integration.
To protect this lifeline, the report calls for reform guided by four principles:
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Fairness: Requirements must be realistic and recognise the barriers refugees face.
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Prioritising need: Unaccompanied children and at-risk families should be exempt from restrictions or fees.
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Flexibility: Simplify visa processes to prevent hardship and support smoother integration.
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Efficiency: Make timely, accurate decisions to reduce dangerous journeys and prolonged separation.
Refugee family reunion, the Red Cross stresses, is not just policy—it’s a pathway back to life for families torn apart by conflict.
- Read their original article here
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Read the “I Returned to Life” report here