Blitz Bureau
RESETTLEMENT schemes for Afghans to come to the UK after the Taliban takeover have been suddenly closed by the Government. Immigration rule changes laid in Parliament on July 1 ended the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) for new applications. The scheme, launched in April 2021, was for those who had helped Britain fight the Taliban or who worked for the UK Government and feared reprisal.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which opened in January 2022 to help women, girls and minority groups come legally to the UK, was also shut. Migration minister Seema Malohtra said the UK will not launch any further pathways. The closure has been met with criticism from refugee advocates and human rights organisations, who express concerns about the lack of safe and legal routes for Afghans seeking refuge in the UK.
The Ministry of Defence’s resettlement programme, ARAP, closed to new applicants as of July1 at 3pm. Under the new rules, an Afghan applicant must have applied for help on or after April 1, 2021 and before 3pm BST on July 1, 2025 to be considered eligible.
Over 12,800 Afghans have been resettled in Britain under ACRS. By March 31, 2025, 21,316 Afghans had been relocated under ARAP. A further 22,000 ARAP applicants are in a backlog.
Gunes Kalkan, head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, said the move would leave “people, including the children and families we support, in dangerous situations with no hope of rescue”, reported The Independent. He added: “We are shocked that the government has today quietly announced the closure of the resettlement routes for Afghans – a lifeline for those who continue to be persecuted and forced into hiding from the Taliban. “Instead of closing down safe routes, this government must open more and continue to help Afghans to reach protection and loved ones”.
