In a significant shift in UK asylum policy, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, announced today that all new applications under the dedicated refugee family reunion route will be temporarily suspended. This move forms part of a broader overhaul aimed at controlling migration, addressing system inefficiencies, and easing pressures on local authorities and housing resources.
Yvette Cooper said the system had become “unmanageable,” with applications flooding in one to two years after their protection grant, often while refugees still live in taxpayer-funded hotels.
Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp criticised the move as insufficient, arguing that anyone who enters the UK “illegally” should not be allowed to bring family members.
Under interim rules, refugees must now meet the same requirements as other migrants, including longer residency, English language proficiency, and financial thresholds. A full reform package is expected by spring 2026.
The move aims to end the use of asylum hotels, reduce pressure on local services, and respond to growing public concern over migration, especially as Reform UK gains ground in national polls.