US puts on hold 6,500 asylum applications from Syrian nationals following the fall of the Assad govt.

The Home Office has put on hold approximately 6,500 asylum applications from Syrian nationals, according to immigration minister Angela Eagle. The government is working towards the repatriation of refugees to Syria following the takeover of the country by militant factions on December 8.

Syrian families residing in the United Kingdom find themselves in a state of uncertainty following a recent announcement from the Home Office, which has left their status unresolved just before the Christmas holidays.

Balal, a 39-year-old citizen of Syria, expressed concern to The Guardian on Tuesday regarding his family’s apprehensions about their future as the Christmas season approaches.

He stated that regardless of the potential safety of returning to Syria, he perceives no viable future for his children in the nation.

Balal expressed deep concern, stating that the current administration appears to be merely engaging in a strategic game aimed at securing approval from the international community. He warned that, once such approval is obtained, the regime would likely pursue its agenda without restraint or compassion.

He further stated that “the presence of firearms on the streets, coupled with the collapse of the health and education systems in Syria, underscores the country’s dire situation.” He added that even in the absence of additional conflict, and with international assistance to the new governing body, it would take years to restore the nation.

Balal expressed deep concern over his children’s future amidst uncertainty, stating, “My children are asking about our fate. How can we celebrate Christmas or New Year when there is a persistent fear of being deported? We are anxious about what lies ahead.”

Balal, a former bank manager from Damascus, has resided in Sheffield for the past year, accompanied by his wife and their four children. The children’s ages are 14, 10, and a pair of four-year-old twins.

In 2023, the individual submitted an application for asylum and participated in his second interview regarding the application last month. Officials from the Home Office have informed him that a decision on his case is “imminent.”

Bilal, who entered the United Kingdom last year on a student visa, pursued a master’s degree in Banking Finance at Sheffield Hallam University. He successfully completed his studies in September.

He is eager to pursue a PhD or secure full-time employment, yet his plans remain in limbo pending a decision on his asylum application from the Home Office.

In an unprecedented move earlier this month, a number of European nations, notably the United Kingdom, announced the suspension of all pending asylum applications filed by Syrian nationals. This decision may leave thousands of Syrian refugees in a state of uncertainty.

As of late February 2021, the United Kingdom had successfully resettled over 20,000 Syrian refugees through a government-led initiative, as reported by the Refugee Council.

In 2019, estimates indicated that approximately 47,000 Syrians resided in the United Kingdom. However, recent figures suggest that this number has decreased to roughly 30,000.