Five Syrian refugees in the UK are preparing to take legal action against the Home Office after their applications for permanent settlement have been left unresolved amid a government suspension of all decisions on Syrian asylum and settlement cases.
The Home Office announced on December 9 last year that it would pause interviews and decision-making on Syrian asylum claims, citing the need to assess the ongoing situation in Syria following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime. This freeze also affects Syrians who already hold refugee status and are seeking indefinite leave to remain, The Independent reported on Sunday.
As of March, government figures indicated that at least 7,000 people were impacted by the broader pause on asylum decisions, though the exact number of Syrians waiting for settlement decisions remains unknown.
The five refugees challenging the decision are represented by law firm Duncan Lewis, which has issued pre-action letters asserting that the pause is unjustifiable. Their lawyers argue that if the government cannot determine whether it is safe for Syrians to return, it must uphold its legal obligations under UK immigration laws and international treaties.
“Our clients have fled violence and persecution in Syria and sought refuge in the UK,” said Manini Menon of Duncan Lewis. “When granting them refugee status, the Home Secretary promised protections under the Refugee Convention and assured them they would be treated fairly and according to the law. As long as the government cannot confirm that Syria is safe for return, it must approve their applications for settlement.”
Refugees become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years of asylum in the UK. However, with no clear timeline for when the Home Office plans to resume decisions, concerns about uncertainty and prolonged delays are mounting among Syrians living in Britain.
The pause follows the December overthrow of Bashar Assad by a rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which remains a proscribed terrorist organization under UK law. HTS leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, previously subject to a $10 million US bounty, has met with US President Donald Trump, who expressed cautious optimism about his potential.
In Parliament, Home Office Minister Lord Hanson explained the decision to pause processing, stating, “We do not yet understand what has happened in Syria on a permanent basis or how stable the country is as a whole.” Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle echoed this cautious stance, saying, “As soon as there is a clear basis for making determinations, asylum decision-making will resume.”
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that decisions on Syrian asylum cases remain paused as officials continue to assess the current situation and are reviewing the policy regularly.
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