The Court of Appeal has ruled that a Kurdish couple, separated from their two young children on a migrant dinghy near northern France, cannot reunite with them in the UK. The family had attempted to cross the Channel on 19 July, seeking asylum in the UK after fleeing persecution in Turkey.

During the journey, the mother fell overboard, and the father followed in an attempt to rescue her. Meanwhile, the smugglers pushed the boat out to sea with the two children aboard. The children were later taken into the care of Kent County Council upon their arrival in the UK, where they were placed with foster carers.

Despite the children’s distress and psychological harm from the separation, the parents’ legal challenge to reunite with them in the UK was rejected by the Court of Appeal. The Home Office had argued that allowing the family to reunite could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging smugglers to put more children in perilous situations.

Instead, the Home Office plans to send the children back to France to reunite with their parents there. After discussions between UK and French authorities, France has agreed to accept the children, but the timeline for their return remains unclear. The judges criticized the Home Office for delays in handling the case and expressed regret that the family’s separation would continue for weeks.

Charity officials and experts have condemned the decision, highlighting the psychological toll on the children.