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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · 8d

Jon Featonby, chief policy analyst at the Refugee Council, said: “The previous government tried and failed to put people off taking risky journeys by reducing the rights of refugees once they were in the UK. It didn’t work then and there is no evidence to suggest it will work now."

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 10d

Starmer to end asylum ‘golden ticket’ of resettlement and family reunion rights

People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call ‘straight from populist playbook’ People granted asylum will no longer be given “the golden ticket” of resettlement and family reunion rights, Keir Starmer said, amid deepening concerns from charities that his words are demonising refugees. As the prime minister prepared to discuss illegal migration with European leaders, No 10 outlined plans to strip successful claimants of the right to automatically invite spouses and children to join them. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · 18d

We stand with our colleagues across the sector in calling for fair and responsible reporting on asylum and migration.

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · 18d

This is not the country we know or want to be. It is vital that our political leaders step up to calm the debate and champion the values of tolerance and community that most Britons believe in.

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · 18d

Hostility towards refugees is having very real consequences for not only the people who have fled places like Sudan and Afghanistan, but also for the organisations trying to help them. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters

At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Refugee Council

Rene Cassin @renecassin.bsky.social · 25d

🎙️ Our Refugee Podcast Launches today with
@enversol.bsky.social from @refugeecouncil.bsky.social

Listen to Enver discuss the importance of expanding #SafeRoutes for #Refugees & the vital role the media plays.

💚 Listen on Spotify: lnkd.in/dY52K6TW
❤️ Watch on YouTube: lnkd.in/dT6egumh

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Sep 5

Statement from our Chief Executive @enversol.bsky.social, on today's cabinet reshuffle and appointment of a new Home Secretary: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/press-office...

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Sep 2

This is not who we are as a country—we should not be forcing children to grow up without their parents. Family reunion is a lifeline. It enables refugees to rebuild their lives, integrate more quickly, and contribute to their communities.

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Sep 2

Far from stopping people taking dangerous journeys to cross the Channel, these changes will only push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers in an effort to reunite with loved ones.

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Sep 2

It is only for immediate family of people who have already been through the process of being recognised as refugees and overwhelmingly supports women and children, who made up nine out of ten visas granted through this route in the last year.

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Sep 2

Until now, family reunion has been one of the only safe and legal routes available that allows refugees fleeing war and persecution to be reunited with their partner and children. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Yvette Cooper accused of pushing children towards people smugglers by halting refugee scheme

Home secretary under fire over suspension of family reunion system that she said was at risk of being exploited

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Refugee Council

Jon Featonby @jonfeatonby.bsky.social · Sep 1

In the year to June 2025, 92% of refugee family reunion visas were given to women and children. More than half went to children. Two thirds to people from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran and Sudan. It helps integration and provides a safe route. Family reunion should be easier, not harder.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 31

UK to make it harder for refugees to bring family members to country

Home secretary to announce overhaul of family reunion policy in attempt to quell fractious immigration debate Ministers are planning to make it harder for refugees to bring family members to the UK as part of a package of measures that Yvette Cooper will announce on Monday as she looks to get a grip on the fractious debate over irregular migration. The home secretary will tell MPs she plans to make a number of changes to the way asylum cases are treated, including to the family reunion policy, which officials believe is acting as a magnet for people crossing the Channel. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Refugee Council

Jon Featonby @jonfeatonby.bsky.social · Aug 28

There's been a lot of talk about asylum hotels over the last few weeks, but little in the way of practical suggestions. Our new analysis at @refugeecouncil.bsky.social sets out how the government could end the use of hotels within months, rather than years www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Ending the use of hotels to house people seeking asylum - Refugee Council

New analysis outlinines how the UK can responsibly end the use of asylum hotels within a year through a secure, practical solution.

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 28

Our new analysis sets out how the UK Government could put in place a temporary one-off scheme. This would give permission to stay for a limited period—subject to rigorous security checks—to people from countries almost certain to be recognised as refugees.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/stay-informe...

Ending the use of hotels to house people seeking asylum - Refugee Council

New analysis outlinines how the UK can responsibly end the use of asylum hotels within a year through a secure, practical solution.

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 28

Refugees living in these hotels often report feeling like “targets.” Muhammad, from Afghanistan - who spent six months in a hotel - says: “People film residents outside the hotel without permission, using it in a negative way. It makes them feel hopeless about the system.”

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 28

Our Chief Exec, @enversol.bsky.social says: "As long as hotels remain open, they will continue to be flashpoints for far-right activity, fuelling tensions and driving communities apart. It is a failure of government to keep people in a system that leaves them in limbo for months."

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 28

Today we've published a report showing that asylum hotels could be shut by March 2026 with a one-off scheme for people from five countries. Find out more here:
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Asylum hotels could shut next year if policy for 5 countries changed says study

The Refugee Council has called on the Government to bring give asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, Sudan and Iran limited leave to stay, meaning hotels can close faster

www.mirror.co.uk

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 22

“When refugees are welcomed, everyone benefits: local economies get a boost, skills gaps are filled, and communities gain people who want to work hard and give back.” www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/politic...

Women’s safety is being hijacked by Far-Right vigilantism

How the far-right, including Tommy Robinson, is using women’s safety concerns to fuel vigilantism and anti-immigrant hate.

www.marieclaire.co.uk

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 22

"As the political rhetoric has become more toxic... the real-world consequences for those inside the hotels and for organisations like my own and many others... become more dire." @enversol.bsky.social writing in today's @theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Asylum seekers are being targeted – and so are those who help them. It’s a disturbing new reality | Enver Solomon

Far-right influencers are menacing charities and individuals to further isolate the people we work with. Ensuring safety is now part of the job, says Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Refugee Council

Rene Cassin @renecassin.bsky.social · Aug 12

Today, we join over 200 orgs to call for communities & the country to be brought together for a different way forward – one that's compassionate & united.

This must be a turning point.

#TogetherWithRefugees

@refugeestogether.bsky.social

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Reposted by Refugee Council

Jim Hawkins @jimallthetime.bsky.social · Aug 12

"To stop smugglers for good, the government must expand safe and legal routes, such as allowing family members to travel to be with their loved ones who are already settled in the UK” - Enver Solomon, @refugeecouncil.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Channel crossings to hit 50,000 since Labour came to power

A government minister describes the number as

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Refugee Council

Alan White @aljwhite.bsky.social · Aug 5

New YouGov polling. A monumental failure of our political class to educate, a monumental failure of our media to report fairly, for a generation

47% of people think immigration is primarily illegal. There were 4% irregular arrivals in March

280 2K 4.9K

Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Aug 4

Our client Daastan*, 26, came to the UK from Afghanistan after the murder of his father and brother. He told @itvnews.bsky.social about the impact last summer's riots had on him and others in the hotel where he is living: www.itv.com/news/2025-08...

www.itv.com

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Jul 14

The Government has announced that it has lifted the pause in decisions on asylum applications from people from Syria. In response, @enversol.bsky.social has said the below:

Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Jul 10

In response to the migrant deal with France, announced today, our CEO @enversol.bsky.social has said:

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Refugee Council @refugeecouncil.bsky.social · Jul 9

For too long the Home Office has wrongly judged refugee children to be adults, and in doing so deprived them of the care, love and support they need as the children they are.

More here in @theipaper.com today (nb, paywalled)

inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Home Office wrongly classed hundreds of child asylum seekers as adults

Lone children placed in adult asylum accommodation, including hotels, leaving them vulnerable to abuse

inews.co.uk

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