Truly, truly shocking. Home Office lawyers appear to have deliberately advised against giving child & teen refugees in France the reasons why they were refused family reunion with relatives in UK to prevent them appealing against decision. Level of inhumanity in this is appalling
Remember these were very vulnerable children & teenagers who had often been alone in Calais many months - often subjected to abuse, exploitation, sexual violence
When the camp was cleared, they were told to use legal routes to join family in UK, but when they were turned down & given no reason & no hope, many just disappeared again - probably back into the arms of smugglers, traffickers or abusers
Everyone knows the Home Office gets decisions wrong. Think on Windrush, or the high levels of successful immigration appeals. But these kids - some of the most vulnerable of all - weren’t even given the chance to challenge basic errors or wrong decisions
Previously Home Office suggested it was the French “sparse” & rushed process that prevented 530 children & teens being given proper reasons - now it turns out French officials called for more info, but it was Home Office lawyers who advised against. Shameful, shameful, shameful
Thankyou @safepassageuk for fighting so hard for family reunion. HO must now reconsider cases wherever possible. We need to know how default setting of the Home Office has become so hostile to child refugees that it failed them badly even when Ministers had announced they wd help
