Immigration: Northern Ireland

Home Office written question – answered at on 20 January 2020.

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Photo of Afzal Khan Afzal Khan Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Immigration)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to protect the rights of families to reunite under the Dublin Regulation when the UK leaves the EU.

Photo of Victoria Atkins Victoria Atkins The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Minister for Women

When the UK leaves the EU, the UK will immediately cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation. We will continue to be bound by Dublin during the implementation period and under the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 there is a ‘savings’ provision, such that any Dublin family reunion cases, which have entered the system before the end of the implementation period, will continue to be processed.

The Government also remains committed to seeking an agreement with the EU for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members in the UK, and vice versa, where it is in their best interests. The Government’s policy has not changed and protecting vulnerable children will remain our priority after we leave the EU. The new Clause 37 in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill reaffirms this commitment while clarifying the role of Parliament and Government in negotiations. Clause 37 places an obligation on the Government to lay a statement before Parliament on this matter.

The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through its refugee family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. This route will not be affected when we leave the EU.

Additionally, Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight family of a person granted protection in the UK.

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