JERSEY will seek to extend the range of Islanders’ relatives fleeing Ukraine who can seek refuge here and introduce emergency visas for them, if proposals are passed by the States.
Deputy Jess Perchard has lodged a proposition calling for the External Relations Minister Ian Gorst and Home Affairs Minister Gregory Guida to contact the UK authorities to explore such a move, as the Ukrainian refugee crisis deepens.
Millions of people are expected to be displaced from Ukraine as the war continues.
Earlier this week, Senator Gorst announced that the Island would match the UK in expanding visa access beyond the immediate relatives of residents to also include parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings.
A number of States Members have called for the Island to go further, with the minister himself indicating he would support doing so.
Deputy Perchard’s proposition would extend the criteria to include extended family and introduce, for a six-month period, emergency visas for refugees allowing them to stay in the Island immediately and for at least one year.
In her proposition, Deputy Perchard said: ‘The situation is changing at pace, but right now, there are people fleeing a war zone who have relatives in Jersey.
‘The latter are telling us that they are able and willing to financially support their fleeing family members and begging us to let them in.
‘I think it would be proportionate and morally right to allow these relatives to come here, to be safe and secure while we figure out the paperwork.’
She added that any Islanders should be able to bring relatives from Ukraine here, regardless of nationality.
‘We may have non-British, non-Ukrainian nationals who are Jersey residents who have relatives trying to escape Ukraine.
‘From a humanitarian perspective, my view is that anyone fleeing this war with relatives who are Jersey residents should be able to seek sanctuary in the arms and homes of those Jersey relatives.’
An amendment to the proposition lodged by Deputy Jeremy Maçon would also require ministers to make arrangements for the longer-term settlement of those granted temporary visas.
It would also call on the government to introduce language services for Ukrainian refugees and for the Council of Ministers to report on the cost of the proposition.
The UK recently relaxed restrictions so that visas for Ukrainian nationals can be acquired more easily and issued free of charge within 24 hours.
A number of Jersey residents have already applied to bring relatives here from the war-torn country.
A taskforce has been set up by the government to deal with the matter.
Anyone seeking to bring relatives over from Ukraine should email externalrelations@gov.je.
