An Algerian refugee family who have lived in Luxembourg since 2022 – integrated into schools and local life – now face expulsion after their asylum claims were rejected, leaving their future uncertain.

The father, a former soldier in his mid-50s, says returning to Algeria is impossible, claiming he denounced corruption in the military and was subsequently threatened, stripped of housing, and cut off from water and electricity. He told RTL that he fears prison if forced back, adding that his children were also targeted.

RTL could not independently verify these claims, though the children confirm they remember harassment in their former home country.

The family first arrived in August 2022. The father initially arrived alone, then was soon joined by his wife and their four children, aged between 10 and 16. The children have tried to keep their refugee status hidden from friends, but questions will arise when they suddenly disappear from school.

Long asylum process and repeated rejections

The case is complicated because the father originally sought asylum in another EU country, making that state formally responsible for his request under the Dublin regulation. His wife later applied in Luxembourg but was unable to regularise her status by finding employment.

Their application was formally rejected in December 2023 with instructions to leave within 30 days.

A subsequent appeal, citing the mother's health, who suffers from depression, was also denied. The National Reception Office (ONA) confirmed in March 2025 that the family must leave. Only because of intervention from the Ombudsman for Children and Youth (OKAJU) were they granted a short extension until the end of September.

Uncertainty all around

The new school year is about to begin, and the four children continue to attend classes with commitment. The eldest daughter, 16, says she hopes to be top of her class again this year. Her younger sister, 14, is also in a lycée classique, while their 12-year-old brother is excelling in his sports club and speaks good Luxembourgish.

The children explained their desire for normality, noting they cannot join school trips and no longer have access to healthcare due to the rejection of their application for asylum. Two daughters, both having braces, said they have not seen a dentist for five months, wondering whether they will be stuck with them indefinitely.

Efforts to integrate

The parents insist they have done everything possible to integrate. The father has taught French to other refugees, taken training courses, and both parents studied Luxembourgish. He says he previously studied in the US, while his wife worked at a bank, who is willing to take cleaning jobs if necessary. The mother said in tears that they left Algeria only because they felt they had no choice.

The family's journey through the asylum system has been difficult. They moved repeatedly between refugee shelters, including time in tents and a cramped room with no windows in Mersch, where the eldest daughter remembers brushing her teeth secretly at school to avoid shame. In their current centre in the south, conditions are better, but uncertainty remains.

Authorities unconvinced

Luxembourg's asylum authorities maintain that the family does not require international protection, and that the risks cited are not considered life-threatening. They have been instructed to report to the Maison de retour ahead of their departure.

For the mother, the prospect is unbearable: "All we want is a normal life", she said, adding that her greatest hope is simply to see her children smiling again in safety.