Micro Rainbow is deeply concerned by the UK government’s plans to extend the pathway to settlement for refugees. For the LGBTQI people we support who have fled persecution, violence, imprisonment and family rejection, these proposals represent a significant step backwards.
Refugees come to the UK seeking safety, stability and the chance to rebuild their lives. Extending settlement timelines by years, or even decades, does not address the causes of displacement or deter those fleeing for their lives. Instead, it punishes people who have already endured profound trauma and uncertainty.
Constantly changing immigration rules, especially for people who have already built their lives around existing pathways to settlement, creates anxiety and instability. LGBTQI people fleeing persecution in our community have already experienced trauma and displacement, the prospect of facing prolonged insecurity will have a compounding impact on their wellbeing and integration.
Furthermore, these proposals will create a two-tier system that treats refugees as less deserving of stability. Refugees should not have to spend decades proving their worthiness to remain safe. Once a person has been recognised as needing protection, that protection must be meaningful and permanent.
To be clear: none of these changes will act as a deterrent. People will still come to the UK for safety and protection. But these changes will entrench hardship and insecurity in the lives of people who do reach this country. We believe that a fair and compassionate asylum system should help people rebuild their lives, not keep them trapped in uncertainty. We urge the government to reconsider measures that will undermine integration, harm mental wellbeing and place further barriers in the way of those seeking safety and belonging in the UK.
