The Justice and Home Affairs Committee recently released a report titled “All families matter: An inquiry into family migration,” shedding light on the detrimental effects of current migration policies on families and society. The report highlights how these policies force families to live apart, discouraging the arrival of spouses, partners, and elderly parents of British citizens due to complex rules and financial requirements. Children often grow up without one parent, and child refugees face challenges in being joined by relatives.

Moreover, the Home Office’s handling of family visa applications is severely lacking, with delays, poor communication, complex evidential requirements, and high fees creating obstacles for British citizens, refugees, and permanent residents alike. These restrictive policies not only impact individuals but also undermine society by causing the loss of essential skills and discouraging potential migrants from coming to the UK. The report particularly emphasizes the adverse effects on the NHS, where individuals’ contributions to the economy are weakened when their family members are not allowed into the country.

While the committee acknowledges the necessity of strict criteria for immigration, it argues that policies respecting family life ultimately benefit society. By bringing attention to the issue of family migration, the committee aims to advocate for new policies grounded in humanity and decency, which prioritize allowing families to live together whenever possible and ensure safe and legal routes for family reunion. Baroness Hamwee, Chair of the Committee, emphasizes the importance of protecting family life and calls for improvements in Home Office processes, increased funding to enhance service standards, and flexibility in immigration rules to allow families to reunite without undue hardship.

In addition to the challenges highlighted in the report, the Chair of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee, Baroness Hamwee, emphasizes the need to prioritize family unity in migration policies. She stresses that nobody should have to choose between home, safety, and family, advocating for safe and legal routes for family reunion. The interests of families and society, she asserts, are intertwined, underscoring the importance of ensuring that migration policies protect family life.

Baroness Hamwee further highlights the impact of restrictive rules and deficiencies on various groups, including British citizens, refugees, and permanent residents. She shares the testimony of individuals who feel disenfranchised despite their citizenship status, emphasizing the need for policies that uphold their rights and allow families to remain together.

The report also addresses the welfare of children, emphasizing the importance of considering immigration from their perspective. Baroness Hamwee points out the scandalous situation of children placed in asylum hotels and the risks they face, highlighting the necessity of family unity for their well-being.

Moreover, she critiques the extreme nature of current policies, such as the near-impossibility of elderly parents joining their families in the UK for care. She calls for tighter but fair immigration rules that enable families to live together and advocates for reforms to the minimum income requirement, arguing for greater flexibility and stability in its application.

Lastly, Baroness Hamwee stresses the need for significant improvements in Home Office processes and service standards, including increased funding to enhance the quality of services provided to families. She emphasizes the importance of recruiting and training caseworkers to address deficiencies in the system and ensure that applicants are kept informed throughout the process.