UK Ends Child Migrant Promise

A key route into the UK for children caught up in Europe's migrant crisis is to close after a total of 350 arrivals under the scheme.

In a written ministerial statement, the Home Office said it would stop receiving children via the so-called Dubs amendment, at the end of March.

The law, designed by peer and former refugee Lord Dubs, was intended to help some of the estimated 90,000 unaccompanied migrant children across Europe. Lord Dubs has described the decision as "shameful."

When the amendment was created, no time-frame or target number was written into the legislation, although Lord Dubs suggested the figure of 3,000 unaccompanied children.

Now, Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said 200 had already arrived, and a further 150 children would arrive before the end of March.

Lord Dubs said:

"Britain has a proud history of welcoming refugees. At a time when Donald Trump is banning refugees from America, it would be shameful if the UK followed suit by closing down this route to sanctuary for unaccompanied children just months after it was opened.

"I urge the prime minister to show leadership by continuing and building on this programme, not shutting the door to some of the most vulnerable refugee children."

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