A court has overturned a Home Office decision that blocked mothers and children in Gaza from reuniting with family members in the United Kingdom, after an immigration judge found the government had unlawfully applied its ‘unsafe journeys’ policy in two cases.
Biometric checks and closed visa centre
Under normal procedures, family members abroad whose applications to join relatives in the UK are approved must complete biometric checks — including fingerprinting and facial images — at a visa application centre (VAC). The VAC serving Gaza has been closed since October 2023, and movement out of the territory is highly constrained, meaning many applicants have been unable to complete these required checks.
Unlawful application of policy
The judge concluded that the Home Office’s decision to refuse the two families’ entry on the grounds linked to the ‘unsafe journeys’ policy was unlawful. The ruling quashes the block in those specific cases, finding that the policy had been applied in a way that did not stand up to legal scrutiny.
Practical and legal implications
The judgment underscores the tension between procedural requirements for visas and the practical impossibility for some applicants to meet those requirements because of circumstances on the ground. What happens next for the families involved will depend on the Home Office’s response and any potential further legal steps, but the ruling removes the specific barrier that had prevented the two families from proceeding with reunification.