Latest news with #Arap
Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
Home Office warns end of Afghan scheme risks more small boats
A government decision to close without warning two schemes for Afghans to apply for sanctuary could increase the number of illegal migrants heading to Britain on small boats, according to a Home Office policy paper. The potential decision by desperate Afghans forced to flee the Taliban by illegal means would result in 'wider costs' to taxpayers, the explanatory memorandum to a statement of changes to the immigration rules outlines. There was a deliberate choice to end the schemes with 'no notice' to 'prevent a spike in last-minute applications and mitigate against an increase to the backlog of outstanding applications', officials admitted. Ministers were accused by campaigners on Tuesday of 'perverse' treatment of Afghans after the government abruptly ended the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) for those who had helped Britain to fight the Taliban. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable people and those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan to legally come to safety in Britain, was also closed. Campaigners said the applicants had no warning that the schemes would cease to exist at 3pm on Tuesday. The deadline for applications was buried in a 138-page Home Office statement of changes to the immigration rules published on the same day. Now it has emerged in an explanatory note that there is a risk that the closure of Arap will merely displace applications from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the Home Office, either in the form of asylum claims, considerations for leave outside the rules or other applications on family and human rights grounds. 'Similarly, there is a risk that eligible individuals will remain at risk or will seek to use irregular routes, including small boats, following the closure of Arap,' the paper says. 'The latter would result in wider costs to government. However, it is not currently possible to estimate these potential impacts.' • Migrant Channel crossings hit a record 20,000 in six months It adds that the MoD had received 13,000 principal applications since October and that applications were still being received. 'The impact of the closure of the scheme with no notice period will prevent a spike in last-minute applications and mitigate against an increase to the backlog of outstanding applications that need to be considered for eligibility by the MoD,' the paper says.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Afghan resettlement schemes to close to new applications under rule changes
Resettlement schemes for Afghans to come to the UK after the Taliban takeover will be closed as ministers seek to focus defence efforts on the nation's security. New immigration rule changes laid in Parliament on Tuesday move to end the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), for Afghans who had worked with the UK government and their families, to new applications from July 1. Some 21,316 Afghans have been resettled to the UK through Arap since it was launched in April 2021. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable people and those who assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan to legally come to safety in the UK, will also be closed. The scheme formally opened in January 2022 with a pledge by the then-Conservative government to resettle up to 20,000 people 'over the coming years'. Documents on Tuesday show more than 12,800 people have been resettled through ACRS, with children making up more than half the arrivals, and women accounting for a quarter. The closure comes as Defence Secretary John Healey said in December that the schemes cannot be an 'endless process', adding: 'The Government intends to reach a position where the UK Afghan resettlement schemes can be closed.' A Home Office paper published on Tuesday said: 'He now considers the Arap to have fulfilled its original purpose and can be closed to new principal applications, not least so that defence efforts and resources can be focused where they are most needed - on our nation's security, to combat the acute threats and destabilising behaviour of our adversaries.' The document said Arap's closure to new applications is the first step to completing Afghan resettlement, and the Government aims to have 'successfully honoured its obligation' to complete resettlements by the end of this Parliament. But head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, Gunes Kalkan, said the charity was 'shocked' by the closure of the 'lifeline for those who continue to be persecuted and forced into hiding from the Taliban'. He said: 'This Government is abandoning the original promise to bring 20,000 Afghans to safety. In fact, falling far short and leaving people, including the children and families we support, in dangerous situations with no hope of rescue. 'This comes as the Government is also committed to stopping refugees crossing the Channel to reach the UK.' As Afghans make up one of the top nationalities to make the dangerous journey, Mr Kalkan said 'we'll only see more people risking their lives'. 'Instead of closing down safe routes, this Government must open more and continue to help Afghans to reach protection and loved ones.' Applications made under Arap before the closure will still be considered, the Home Office document added, as the Ministry of Defence currently has a backlog of 22,000 decisions from the scheme. Referrals made under ACRS's Separated Families pathways will also still be considered where decisions have not yet been reached. The document added the Government will honour commitments to anyone found eligible, and to those who are deemed eligible but are not yet in the UK. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Afghan resettlement schemes to close to new applications under rule changes
New immigration rule changes laid in Parliament on Tuesday move to end the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), for Afghans who had worked with the UK government and their families, to new applications from July 1. Some 21,316 Afghans have been resettled to the UK through Arap since it was launched in April 2021. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable people and those who assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan to legally come to safety in the UK, will also be closed. The scheme formally opened in January 2022 with a pledge by the then-Conservative government to resettle up to 20,000 people 'over the coming years'. Documents on Tuesday show more than 12,800 people have been resettled through ACRS, with children making up more than half the arrivals, and women accounting for a quarter. The closure comes as Defence Secretary John Healey said in December that the schemes cannot be an 'endless process', adding: 'The Government intends to reach a position where the UK Afghan resettlement schemes can be closed.' A Home Office paper published on Tuesday said: 'He now considers the Arap to have fulfilled its original purpose and can be closed to new principal applications, not least so that defence efforts and resources can be focused where they are most needed - on our nation's security, to combat the acute threats and destabilising behaviour of our adversaries.' The document said Arap's closure to new applications is the first step to completing Afghan resettlement, and the Government aims to have 'successfully honoured its obligation' to complete resettlements by the end of this Parliament. But head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, Gunes Kalkan, said the charity was 'shocked' by the closure of the 'lifeline for those who continue to be persecuted and forced into hiding from the Taliban'. He said: 'This Government is abandoning the original promise to bring 20,000 Afghans to safety. In fact, falling far short and leaving people, including the children and families we support, in dangerous situations with no hope of rescue. 'This comes as the Government is also committed to stopping refugees crossing the Channel to reach the UK.' As Afghans make up one of the top nationalities to make the dangerous journey, Mr Kalkan said 'we'll only see more people risking their lives'. 'Instead of closing down safe routes, this Government must open more and continue to help Afghans to reach protection and loved ones.' Applications made under Arap before the closure will still be considered, the Home Office document added, as the Ministry of Defence currently has a backlog of 22,000 decisions from the scheme. Referrals made under ACRS's Separated Families pathways will also still be considered where decisions have not yet been reached. The document added the Government will honour commitments to anyone found eligible, and to those who are deemed eligible but are not yet in the UK. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Afghan resettlement schemes to close to new applications under rule changes
New immigration rule changes laid in Parliament on Tuesday move to end the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), for Afghans who had worked with the UK government and their families, to new applications from July 1. Some 21,316 Afghans have been resettled to the UK through Arap since it was launched in April 2021. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable people and those who assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan to legally come to safety in the UK, will also be closed. The scheme formally opened in January 2022 with a pledge by the then-Conservative government to resettle up to 20,000 people 'over the coming years'. Documents on Tuesday show more than 12,800 people have been resettled through ACRS, with children making up more than half the arrivals, and women accounting for a quarter. Defence Secretary John Healey (Ben Stansall/PA) The closure comes as Defence Secretary John Healey said in December that the schemes cannot be an 'endless process', adding: 'The Government intends to reach a position where the UK Afghan resettlement schemes can be closed.' A Home Office paper published on Tuesday said: 'He now considers the Arap to have fulfilled its original purpose and can be closed to new principal applications, not least so that defence efforts and resources can be focused where they are most needed - on our nation's security, to combat the acute threats and destabilising behaviour of our adversaries.' The document said Arap's closure to new applications is the first step to completing Afghan resettlement, and the Government aims to have 'successfully honoured its obligation' to complete resettlements by the end of this Parliament. But head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, Gunes Kalkan, said the charity was 'shocked' by the closure of the 'lifeline for those who continue to be persecuted and forced into hiding from the Taliban'. He said: 'This Government is abandoning the original promise to bring 20,000 Afghans to safety. In fact, falling far short and leaving people, including the children and families we support, in dangerous situations with no hope of rescue. 'This comes as the Government is also committed to stopping refugees crossing the Channel to reach the UK.' As Afghans make up one of the top nationalities to make the dangerous journey, Mr Kalkan said 'we'll only see more people risking their lives'. 'Instead of closing down safe routes, this Government must open more and continue to help Afghans to reach protection and loved ones.' Arrivals at RAF Brize Norton who have been evacuated from Afghanistan, via the UAE, under the Arap (Cpl Will Drummee RAF/MOD/Crown copyright/PA) Applications made under Arap before the closure will still be considered, the Home Office document added, as the Ministry of Defence currently has a backlog of 22,000 decisions from the scheme. Referrals made under ACRS's Separated Families pathways will also still be considered where decisions have not yet been reached. The document added the Government will honour commitments to anyone found eligible, and to those who are deemed eligible but are not yet in the UK. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Afghan resettlement schemes to close to new applications under rule changes
New immigration rule changes laid in Parliament on Tuesday move to end the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), for Afghans who had worked with the UK government and their families, to new applications from July 1. Some 21,316 Afghans have been resettled to the UK through Arap since it was launched in April 2021. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable people and those who assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan to legally come to safety in the UK, will also be closed. The scheme formally opened in January 2022 with a pledge by the then-Conservative government to resettle up to 20,000 people 'over the coming years'. Documents on Tuesday show more than 12,800 people have been resettled through ACRS, with children making up more than half the arrivals, and women accounting for a quarter. Defence Secretary John Healey (Ben Stansall/PA) The closure comes as Defence Secretary John Healey said in December that the schemes cannot be an 'endless process', adding: 'The Government intends to reach a position where the UK Afghan resettlement schemes can be closed.' A Home Office paper published on Tuesday said: 'He now considers the Arap to have fulfilled its original purpose and can be closed to new principal applications, not least so that defence efforts and resources can be focused where they are most needed - on our nation's security, to combat the acute threats and destabilising behaviour of our adversaries.' The document said Arap's closure to new applications is the first step to completing Afghan resettlement, and the Government aims to have 'successfully honoured its obligation' to complete resettlements by the end of this Parliament. But head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, Gunes Kalkan, said the charity was 'shocked' by the closure of the 'lifeline for those who continue to be persecuted and forced into hiding from the Taliban'. He said: 'This Government is abandoning the original promise to bring 20,000 Afghans to safety. In fact, falling far short and leaving people, including the children and families we support, in dangerous situations with no hope of rescue. 'This comes as the Government is also committed to stopping refugees crossing the Channel to reach the UK.' As Afghans make up one of the top nationalities to make the dangerous journey, Mr Kalkan said 'we'll only see more people risking their lives'. 'Instead of closing down safe routes, this Government must open more and continue to help Afghans to reach protection and loved ones.' Arrivals at RAF Brize Norton who have been evacuated from Afghanistan, via the UAE, under the Arap (Cpl Will Drummee RAF/MOD/Crown copyright/PA) Applications made under Arap before the closure will still be considered, the Home Office document added, as the Ministry of Defence currently has a backlog of 22,000 decisions from the scheme. Referrals made under ACRS's Separated Families pathways will also still be considered where decisions have not yet been reached. The document added the Government will honour commitments to anyone found eligible, and to those who are deemed eligible but are not yet in the UK. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
