A member of the Labour Party who escaped persecution during World War II as a child is urging the British Government to reconsider regulations that he believes are causing separation among families in Gaza.
Lord Alf Dubs has sent a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, requesting that students be allowed to bring their spouses and children with them to the UK. Lord Dubs emphasized the dilemma faced by students admitted to British universities who are forced to make a difficult choice between their families and their academic futures.
The 92-year-old former child refugee, who arrived in the UK in 1939 as part of the Kindertransport rescue effort, highlighted the personal impact of immigration policies that divide families. Lord Dubs, who was one of nearly 10,000 unaccompanied children rescued through Kindertransport, emphasized that 60% of these children never reunited with their parents.
While commending the Government for permitting fully funded students from Gaza to pursue studies in UK universities, Lord Dubs criticized the decision to prevent students from bringing their dependents, even when they can demonstrate financial support. He emphasized that this restriction forces some students to make a heartbreaking choice between their loved ones and their educational aspirations.
Currently, regulations prohibit students from relocating with their families. Lord Dubs shared the stories of Manar, a prospective fully funded PhD student at Glasgow University who faces leaving her young children behind, and Loay, who has been offered a fully funded Masters program at Oxford University but cannot depart without his wife and newborn baby. Lord Dubs stressed that although the number of affected individuals is relatively small, the long-term consequences of separating families are profound.
Recently, 34 Palestinian students arrived in the UK to commence their studies after being evacuated from Gaza. This cohort marks the first group to do so since 2023.