Child refugees using people smugglers to reach family in UK, report warns

Delays in government family reunion processes see stranded children crossing the Channel in small boats, charities’ report says

Child refugees are using people smugglers to cross the Channel in small boats to reunite with parents and other close relatives because delays in government family reunion processes are leaving them stranded in danger, according to a report.

Some children are waiting in conflict zones for applications for refugee family reunions to be processed by the Home Office, while others have fled to neighbouring countries. Many wait longer than the Home Office’s target of 12 weeks to process these applications. The backlog of family reunion applications in July 2023 was 11,000.