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xCharities sound the alarm over “sustained attack on children’s rights”
Date: 1st May 2026
Category:
Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children
Nearly 150 organisations working with children, young people, refugees and migrants have written to the Prime Minister warning that the UK Government’s newly proposed migration rules could severely undermine children’s rights and welfare.
The signatories – which includes Together, other major children’s charities, social work bodies, legal organisations and migrant‑rights groups – say the plans risk pushing hundreds of thousands of children into poverty, instability and long‑term uncertainty.
A central concern is the proposed “earned settlement” system, which the group says could leave as many as 90,000 children already living in the UK stuck in limbo for years, unable to build secure futures. They also highlight plans to make refugee status temporary and to make it easier to withdraw financial support from families and care leavers whose asylum claims have been refused. According to the organisations, these changes would deepen hardship and increase the likelihood of homelessness among vulnerable children and young adults.
The strongest criticism is directed at new “use of force” proposals currently under consultation. These measures could allow children to be handcuffed or physically restrained during removals, including in situations where a parent refuses to let go of a child’s hand. The groups describe this as “abhorrent” and warn it would cause trauma and violate basic child‑protection principles.
The letter also challenges Home Office suggestions that some migrant parents may be “exploiting” the fact they have children, calling such claims “reprehensible.” Instead, the organisations argue that children who grow up in the UK “belong here” and need stability, safety and certainty to thrive.
Leaders from several organisations echoed these concerns, warning that the proposals could worsen child poverty, increase homelessness and leave children living in fear of forced removal. They urge the UK Government to rethink the plans and to carry out a full Child Rights Impact Assessment to ensure no policy change puts children at risk.
Overall, the message from the sector is unified and urgent: the proposed migration rules could cause lasting harm to children, and the Government should change course.