Our statement on the Immigration White Paper

At Hope for the Young, we work alongside young people who have been displaced by conflict, persecution, and unimaginable hardship – supporting them to rebuild their lives through education, mentoring, and advocacy. The young refugees and asylum seekers we work with bring resilience, talent, and hope to communities across the UK. Their dreams are no different from those of their peers: to learn, to contribute, and to belong.

We are, therefore, deeply concerned by several proposals outlined in the government’s new Immigration White Paper (May 2025) and the tone of recent political debate on immigration more broadly. Firstly, although we are pleased to see some renewed commitments to supporting children to regularise their status in the UK, the proposed extension of the settlement period from five to ten years risks keeping young people in a prolonged state of insecurity. This will make it harder for them to plan for their futures, complete their education, or feel safe in the country they now call home. This uncertainty adds to the already significant trauma many young people have faced and contradicts the government’s stated aim of supporting integration.

We are also concerned about the decision to raise the English language requirement for adult dependants. While language is an important part of integration, barriers to family reunification must not be increased. Many of the young people we support rely on their families for emotional and practical support – keeping families apart will only make integration harder.

The recent political rhetoric describing the UK as at risk of becoming “an island of strangers” is deeply troubling and risks stoking further division. Language like this does not reflect the reality we see every day: young people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds are already making invaluable contributions to their communities. They are our classmates, colleagues, neighbours, and friends. They deserve to be treated with dignity, not suspicion.

At Hope for the Young, we recognise the need for fair and effective immigration policies, but these must be rooted in humanity, not hostility. We must remember that behind every statistic is a person with a story – a person who deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. As forced displacement continues to rise, the UK must continue to uphold its commitments to protect those fleeing persecution and conflict.

We urge policymakers from all parties to listen to the voices of young refugees and asylum seekers and to work with organisations like ours to build a future that prioritises compassion, fairness, and belonging.