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Lord Dubs' campaign to help Syrian refugees

By: Zaira

Lord Dubs

Last April, Lord Dubs sponsored an amendment to the Immigration Act 2016 to help unaccompanied refugee children into the UK. The Dubs amendment started because of the amount of lone refugees in the “Jungle” camp in Calais; the law aimed to help some of the estimated 90,000 unaccompanied migrant children across Europe.

Lord Alfred Dubs was a former refugee himself who escaped Czech Republic when it was under the control of Nazi Germany. He escaped the Holocaust on a train through the Kindertransport programme for Jewish children. He arrived in the UK in 1939 and was instantly provided a house and a secure future in the UK. The Dubs amendment is similar to the Kindertransport programme in the way that it aims to transport migrant children safely across Europe.

I honestly do not understand in my heart of hearts why the government has chosen to close it down in this way. The could have easily kept it going for a bit longer and taken a few more.

Lord Dubs

Lord Dubs’ scheme suggested that up to 3000 children could be brought into the UK to start a new life but only 350 children have come to the UK under the Dubs amendment. The government says that councils can’t find any more space to house any further children and so the amendment will be capped at 350 children, less than an eighth of the originally proposed amount. Theresa May announced the closure of the scheme in February this year. MP’s publically announced their disappointment over the end of the Dubs amendment. Many called it shameful whilst others supported Theresa May’s decision.

Lord Dubs told The Independent “I honestly do not understand in my heart of hearts why the Government has chosen to close it down on this way. They could have easily kept it going for a bit longer and taken a few more.” MP’s have responded saying that because of councils not being able to house anymore refugees, the Dubs scheme encourages people trafficking. Lord Dubs however has responded to the argument saying “They said they wanted to stop the scheme because the scheme encouraged trafficking. To which I would say, emphatically not – when there are legal paths to safety the traffickers don’t get a way in. We know that traffickers do best when there’s no legal way in.” He added that he has spoken to local councils about taking in more refugees and that many have volunteered spaces which conflicts what the government said about councils having no space.

Lord Dubs was unavailable to comment on BBC News Day.