Syrians in the UK whose lives have been “frozen” have urged MPs to end the legal limbo and rule out the prospect of coercive returns that has left families “terrified”.
In the wake of the overthrow of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, the Home Office announced a pause on asylum decision making for former citizens of the country. This indefinite pause affected at least 7,000 people waiting for any asylum decision and even more who had applied for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after receiving refugee status.
For those seeking asylum, the decision to freeze has meant months banned from work, forced to survive on less than £50 a week in asylum support, living in often-inadequate asylum accommodation, without an end in sight. For those awaiting ILR decisions, the lack of certainty about their legal status has left people unable to take up jobs or education; to rent homes or apply for mortgages; or to travel safely.
On Monday, July 14, a group of those whose lives have been turned upside down by the decision pause travelled to Parliament to meet MPs with a simple demand: unfreeze our lives and rule out coercive returns.
Among those attending were Fareed Fakhoury, who is currently seeking asylum. He said: “This uncertainty has gnawed away at our mental health—my wife and four boys bear the scars of war and displacement, and now we’re forced to relive that anxiety here, day after day.
“Planning for the future feels like trying to build on quicksand. Legal support is out of reach so far, my children’s education is on shaky ground, and we’re shut out from society in ways big and small. Even now, after months of delay just to get basic support, the deeper worry remains; our future is still a question mark. The risk of being left with nothing is never far from our minds.”
Mother of three Afraa Hashem, a survivor of detention and the war in Aleppo, began to rebuild her life in the UK after receiving refugee status – but without ILR, she’s unable to travel internationally for her job, while her son, who has received a university offer, has no idea whether he’ll be able to study or get a student loan.
She said: “Although I’m physically safe, the instability in my home country weighs heavily on me. Delays in ILR decisions mean that my children may miss out on higher education, as they can’t access student finance. The fear of deportation, along with the pause on ILR decisions, make it hard to see a secure future. After surviving so much, all I want is stability and the ability to live and contribute in peace. The pause has put my entire future on hold.”
Haytham Alhamwi, Chairman of the Syrian British Consortium said: “We are deeply troubled by the ongoing freeze on asylum decisions, especially those linked to Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. Behind every delayed case is a person, often a family, living in limbo, unable to move forward with their lives. Many have already built their lives in the UK, contributing to their communities and calling this country home. This uncertainty is not just an administrative issue, it is a matter of human dignity and justice. The Home Office must act urgently to restart the decision-making process and bring much-needed clarity and stability to those affected”.
