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These new measures will not deter people seeking safety from coming to the UK but will instead significantly harm the mental health and social integration of those recognised as needing protection in this country. These are men, women, children and families who have fled war, conflict, torture, trafficking, persecution and extreme cruelty. At a point when they most need safety and security, they will be left in a state of ongoing limbo and anxiety about being removed from the country, even once they have been recognised as refugees, and made to wait for over twenty years before they can settle here. Many will be denied the right to reunite with their children and other family members. 

Stability and security are essential for refugees to recover from trauma. From our clinical work we know that survivors of torture and trafficking who live under the constant threat of losing their status or are repeatedly forced to re-engage with an adversarial and/or complex immigration process can experience worsening symptoms of anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Quadrupling the period in which refugees must wait before they can get long-term permission to stay in the UK will increase the risk of destitution, exacerbate trauma, and prevent them from being able to rebuild their lives. 

Our research, and everyday interaction with our clients, shows the profound psychological distress experienced by refugees separated from their families, many left behind in active conflict zones, and the emotional toll of fearing for their loved ones’ safety whilst feeling unable to protect them. Introducing income thresholds, high fees and language requirements for those wishing to reunite with their family will make these applications harder and longer. It will drive refugee family members toward dangerous routes, such as small-boat crossings, and will have a devastating impact on the mental health of refugees in the UK who are already recognised as in need of protection.  

The vast majority of people seeking asylum are not given the right to work and are inevitably reliant on the Home Office for housing and financial support. Any measures that limit access to that support risks leaving vulnerable people destitute and homeless. The courts have already found that where deliberate state policy prevents people from supporting themselves it is inhumane to deny them access to shelter, food and the most basic necessities of life. There is no empirical evidence that draconian policies on support act as a deterrent and this will simply increase the risk of exploitation for people who have come here seeking protection.  

It is well documented, including in the government’s own Modern Slavery Act Statutory Guidance and Helen Bamber Foundation's research, that survivors of trafficking may not recognise themselves as ‘victims’. Factors including trauma or fear of the authorities can result in delayed disclosure of their experiences and difficulty recalling facts. Trafficking victims become used to concealing, denying or minimising physical and psychological injury in order to survive. Denying support to survivors simply because they have disclosed their exploitation 'late' in the asylum process puts them further at risk, and undermines the UK's commitment to tackling trafficking and modern slavery.