Thread by @BGardinerSmith

Mixed emotions returning from Calais/Grande Synthe today. It’s clearly good news that the Govt have lifted more restrictions for Ukrainians in desperate need of family reunion. But what to say to the unaccompanied children we met today in the camp who also have family in UK? 🧵

For them the steps are as follows: 1) make it from Afghanistan to France (no safe routes available)

2) no government officials in the camp to tell you your rights or ensure your protection, hopefully you meet a charity who will before a smuggler

3) age assessment, paperwork, complex forms that will take weeks and need a UK lawyer to complete (I’m simplifying it’s sooo much more complicated than this)

4) make an appointment to submit fingerprints IN PARIS - no appointment for more weeks

5) submit and wait… could take months

And the reality is, whilst my Safe Passage colleagues do an AMAZING job assisting children in their cases, the outcome is uncertain because the rules are so much more restrictive than they were. Try explaining that to a 15yr old and expecting them to stay put.

Meanwhile children are constantly being told they can get to UK in a day if they’re prepared to risk their life one - more - time in a dinghy. The kids we met had already tried multiple times.

Surely we’re capable of creating a system that’s fair and compassionate for all who are fleeing persecution. (*we meaning all of us, society, obv not the Home Office)