Refugees experiencing anxiety due to proposed asylum reforms

"My children constantly ask me, 'Will we have to leave? Can we stay here?' The hardest part is that I cannot give them answers," shares Fateh Shaban, a Syrian refugee living in Canterbury. Since arriving in the UK in November 2022 with his family to work as a university research fellow, he worries that proposed asylum reforms could "destroy everything" he has established.

Labour's recent proposal to make refugee status temporary, with reviews every 30 months, has left many in the South East "living in anxiety." A Home Office spokesperson stated: "Settlement is not an automatic right, but a privilege earned through contribution and integration."

Dr Shaban, a Syrian academic who faced persecution under the Assad regime, praised the Canterbury community for being welcoming but noted that the proposed changes have created uncertainty affecting every aspect of daily life. His main concern is for his four children. His eldest is preparing for GCSEs, while his 10-year-old daughter, described by Dr Shaban as the family's "dictionary," hopes to attend a grammar school. "If we have to leave now, my childrens future will be destroyed," he said.

Although December marks a year since Assads fall, Dr Shaban stressed that Syria is still unsafe. Violence continues, and hospitals, schools, and homes remain damaged after more than a decade of conflict. He lost two brothers in the war and has been unable to visit their graves. Properties belonging to his family were confiscated after he refused to work under the Assad regime. Despite hopes that Assads fall would restore his rights, the new government has yet to confirm this.

The proposed reforms will not impact the Ukraine scheme, but Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that this program is also temporary, leaving Ukrainians uncertain about their future. Kateryna Levanets, a Ukrainian refugee in Folkestone, described life as "divided before and after the war." On 24 February 2022, she fled her southern hometown Bashtanka with her son, taking shelter underground, then moving west to Lviv, Poland, and eventually the UK.

Now working as a dance instructor and reunited with her mother through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Ms Levanets worries that, once the war ends, she might have to start over. "I am rebuilding my life from scratch, step by step," she said, feeling "in the middle of nowhere." Her father remains in Ukraine, recently diagnosed with stomach cancer, deepening her sense of distance and helplessness.

Vlada Bondar, a Ukrainian refugee and mental health consultant in Brighton, acknowledged the UKs immigration challenges but stressed that making refugee status temporary removes the ability to plan for the future. She warned that, although returning to Ukraine is dangerous, the stress of uncertainty in the UK is like experiencing "a small death."

The Home Office maintained that reforms aim to "restore order and control" to the immigration system, clarifying that the Ukraine program has separate rules.

Analysis: The Human Cost of Temporary Refugee Status

The proposed UK asylum reforms, introducing temporary refugee status with reviews every 30 months, are creating profound uncertainty for families like Dr Fateh Shaban’s in Canterbury. While intended to regulate immigration, the policy directly impacts children’s education, family stability, and mental health.

Dr Shaban’s experience highlights a critical tension: integration and contribution are emphasized by the Home Office, yet without guaranteed security, refugees cannot fully participate in community or professional life. His four children face potential disruption in schooling and long-term prospects, reflecting the broader consequences of temporary status on childhood development.

The situation is mirrored among Ukrainian refugees. Despite the Homes for Ukraine scheme being unaffected, temporary status leaves families like Kateryna Levanets’s in limbo, with ongoing emotional and financial pressures. Mental health experts warn that prolonged uncertainty creates chronic stress, affecting both adults and children.

Ultimately, while the government frames these reforms as administrative, the human impact is immediate and tangible. Stability, security, and the ability to plan for the future remain crucial for refugee integration and wellbeing—issues that cannot be measured solely by immigration statistics.

Sources:

• Refugees 'living in anxiety' amid asylum reform plans

Author: Maya Henderson
Maya Henderson is a journalist focused on technology and startups. She has experience in leading IT publications and excels at conducting interviews and creating visual content.