UK Home Office Sends Letters to Migrant Children Asking Them to Leave the Country

The UK Home Office has sent letters to children of migrants, some as young as five, demanding they leave the country, despite their parents having legal permission to stay. These children arrived in the UK legally before recent changes to immigration rules tightened family reunification visas for care workers.

One family, the Arachchiges from Sri Lanka, received such a letter for their two children, aged eight and five. The parents, who have valid visas until 2031 and work in essential sectors, are shocked by the demand for their children to leave. "We are completely shocked that the family received these letters," said Varuni Arachchige, who works in a factory while her husband is a graduate in physical sciences and mathematics. Their children are integrated into school and their community.

Lawyers report an increase in similar cases, with migrant caregivers facing uncertainty. The government's policy shift, implemented in March 2024, restricts care workers from bringing partners or children to the UK. A ban on recruiting care staff from overseas was also introduced in July 2025. However, the children in question arrived before these restrictions took effect.

The family has paid thousands of pounds in visa fees, pays taxes, and does not claim public funds. The letters have caused significant distress, particularly as the children have established lives and schooling in the UK. The situation highlights the complex and often harsh realities faced by migrant families navigating the UK's evolving immigration policies.