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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-minister says no ‘fierce opposition' to Afghan route amid data breach fallout
Conservative ex-ministers offered no 'fierce opposition' to plans to bring Afghan refugees to the UK via a secret route following a data breach, the former armed forces minister has said. James Heappey, who was armed forces minister at the time the data breach came to light, said claims he had backed a 'new entitlement' for people affected by the breach but not eligible for other schemes were 'untrue'. His comments on social media on Thursday appeared to contradict those of former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who said he and former home secretary Suella Braverman had 'strongly opposed' plans for the Afghan Response Route in 'internal meetings'. But Mr Heappey, himself a former Army officer who served in Afghanistan, said the cross-government committee responsible for the policy 'tried to extend entitlements by the smallest number possible'. He said: 'This was led by legal advice & I don't recall fierce opposition. There was frustrated resignation that it was necessary.' Mr Heappey did, however, recall 'rancorous' meetings in which departments 'fought fiercely for their priorities and/or to avoid unresourced responsibility'. He also denied that a new 'secret route' was not under consideration at the time he resigned as armed forces minister in March 2024. The data breach, which saw a defence official release the details of nearly 19,000 people seeking to flee Kabul in 2022, became public on Tuesday after an unprecedented superinjunction banning reporting of the breach was lifted. Since then, Conservative former ministers have sought to distance themselves from the handling of the breach and the subsequent creation of a secret relocation scheme, the Afghanistan Response Route, in April 2024. Along with Mr Jenrick's claims of having opposed the route prior to his resignation in December 2023, Ms Braverman herself has said there is 'much more that needs to be said about the conduct of the MoD (Ministry of Defence), both ministers and officials'. Former veterans minister Johnny Mercer claimed he had 'receipts' regarding the previous government's actions in relation to Kabul, and has described the handling of the breach as 'farcical'. Sir Ben Wallace, who applied for the initial injunction as defence secretary, has said he makes 'no apology' for doing so, saying it was motivated by the need to protect people in Afghanistan whose safety was at risk. Mr Heappey backed up his former boss, saying the superinjunction was 'needed' to protect people from 'mortal danger'. He said: 'The intelligence assessment was clear: if the Taliban got their hands on the list, violent and even lethal reprisal was likely.' Mr Heappey added that, although a review by retired civil servant Paul Rimmer found there was now little threat to those on the list as a result of the breach, this did not mean the threat had never existed. He also sought to defend the individual responsible for the leak, saying they had been 'incredibly dedicated to those we served with in Afghanistan'. Grant Shapps, who was defence secretary by the time the superinjunction was granted, has not yet publicly commented on the revelations. The data breach saw a dataset of 18,714 people who applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme released in February 2022 by a defence official who emailed a file outside authorised government systems. Defence sources have said that details of MI6 spies, SAS and special forces personnel were included in the spreadsheet, after they had endorsed Afghans who had applied to be brought to the UK. The Ministry of Defence only became aware of the blunder when excerpts from the dataset were posted anonymously on a Facebook group in August 2023, and a super-injunction was granted at the High Court in an attempt to prevent the Taliban from finding out about the leak. The leak also led to the creation of the secret Afghanistan Response Route, which is understood to have cost about £400 million so far, with a projected final cost of about £850 million. A total of about 6,900 people are expected to be relocated by the end of the scheme. The official responsible for the email error was moved to a new role but not sacked. The superinjunction was in place for almost two years, covering Labour and Conservative governments. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has apologised on behalf of the Conservatives for the leak, telling LBC: 'On behalf of the government and on behalf of the British people, yes, because somebody made a terrible mistake and names were put out there… and we are sorry for that.' Meanwhile, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee has demanded to see intelligence assessments relating to the data breach 'immediately' as MPs and peers begin inquiries over the incident. The Commons Defence Committee has also indicated it will call former ministers to give evidence on the breach, and Mr Heappey said he would be 'happy to contribute' to the committee's inquiry.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ex-minister says no ‘fierce opposition' to Afghan route amid data breach fallout
Conservative ex-ministers offered no 'fierce opposition' to plans to bring Afghan refugees to the UK via a secret route following a data breach, the former armed forces minister has said. James Heappey, who was armed forces minister at the time the data breach came to light, said claims he had backed a 'new entitlement' for people affected by the breach but not eligible for other schemes were 'untrue'. His comments on social media on Thursday appeared to contradict those of former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who said he and former home secretary Suella Braverman had 'strongly opposed' plans for the Afghan Response Route in 'internal meetings'. But Mr Heappey, himself a former Army officer who served in Afghanistan, said the cross-government committee responsible for the policy 'tried to extend entitlements by the smallest number possible'. He said: 'This was led by legal advice & I don't recall fierce opposition. There was frustrated resignation that it was necessary.' Mr Heappey did, however, recall 'rancorous' meetings in which departments 'fought fiercely for their priorities and/or to avoid unresourced responsibility'. He also denied that a new 'secret route' was not under consideration at the time he resigned as armed forces minister in March 2024. The data breach, which saw a defence official release the details of nearly 19,000 people seeking to flee Kabul in 2022, became public on Tuesday after an unprecedented superinjunction banning reporting of the breach was lifted. Since then, Conservative former ministers have sought to distance themselves from the handling of the breach and the subsequent creation of a secret relocation scheme, the Afghanistan Response Route, in April 2024. Along with Mr Jenrick's claims of having opposed the route prior to his resignation in December 2023, Ms Braverman herself has said there is 'much more that needs to be said about the conduct of the MoD (Ministry of Defence), both ministers and officials'. Former veterans minister Johnny Mercer claimed he had 'receipts' regarding the previous government's actions in relation to Kabul, and has described the handling of the breach as 'farcical'. Sir Ben Wallace, who applied for the initial injunction as defence secretary, has said he makes 'no apology' for doing so, saying it was motivated by the need to protect people in Afghanistan whose safety was at risk. Mr Heappey backed up his former boss, saying the superinjunction was 'needed' to protect people from 'mortal danger'. He said: 'The intelligence assessment was clear: if the Taliban got their hands on the list, violent and even lethal reprisal was likely.' Mr Heappey added that, although a review by retired civil servant Paul Rimmer found there was now little threat to those on the list as a result of the breach, this did not mean the threat had never existed. He also sought to defend the individual responsible for the leak, saying they had been 'incredibly dedicated to those we served with in Afghanistan'. Grant Shapps, who was defence secretary by the time the superinjunction was granted, has not yet publicly commented on the revelations. The data breach saw a dataset of 18,714 people who applied for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme released in February 2022 by a defence official who emailed a file outside authorised government systems. Defence sources have said that details of MI6 spies, SAS and special forces personnel were included in the spreadsheet, after they had endorsed Afghans who had applied to be brought to the UK. The Ministry of Defence only became aware of the blunder when excerpts from the dataset were posted anonymously on a Facebook group in August 2023, and a super-injunction was granted at the High Court in an attempt to prevent the Taliban from finding out about the leak. The leak also led to the creation of the secret Afghanistan Response Route, which is understood to have cost about £400 million so far, with a projected final cost of about £850 million. A total of about 6,900 people are expected to be relocated by the end of the scheme. The official responsible for the email error was moved to a new role but not sacked. The superinjunction was in place for almost two years, covering Labour and Conservative governments. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has apologised on behalf of the Conservatives for the leak, telling LBC: 'On behalf of the government and on behalf of the British people, yes, because somebody made a terrible mistake and names were put out there… and we are sorry for that.' Meanwhile, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee has demanded to see intelligence assessments relating to the data breach 'immediately' as MPs and peers begin inquiries over the incident. The Commons Defence Committee has also indicated it will call former ministers to give evidence on the breach, and Mr Heappey said he would be 'happy to contribute' to the committee's inquiry.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
New ICE memo sparks migrant race against time
By Published: | Updated: Illegal immigrants could be given as little as six hours notice before they are deported to a country other than their homeland, according to a new memo. Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a top Trump administration lieutenant, issued a directive to agency staff on Wednesday, July 9, outlining the direction of deportations moving forward. He said migrants could be deported to a 'third country' with as little as six hours notice 'in exigent circumstances' – so long as the person had been given an opportunity to speak with an attorney. Generally, an immigrant will be given 24 hours notice before they are sent to a country other than their homeland. The memo states that migrants could be sent to nations that have pledged not to persecute or torture them 'without the need for further procedures.' The United States has sent hundreds of migrants to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama, while South Sudan recently accepted eight third–country deportees. These deportees were from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam. Rwanda is reportedly in talks to begin accepting third–country deportees, but human rights advocates have raised concerns over sending migrants to countries where they have no ties or that may have a history of rights violations . The administration last week urged officials from five African nations – Liberia, Senegal, Guinea–Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon – to accept deportees. The Supreme Court in June lifted a lower court's order limiting such deportations without a screening for fear of persecution in the destination country. The administration argues the third country deportations will help swiftly remove migrants who should not be in the US, including those with criminal convictions. Trina Realmuto, a lawyer for a group of migrants pursuing a class action lawsuit against rapid third–county deportations, said the policy 'falls far short of providing the statutory and due process protections that the law requires.' During Trump's 2017–2021 presidency, his administratio n deported small numbers of people from El Salvador and Honduras to Guatemala. Former President Joe Biden similarly struck a deal with Mexico to take thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, since it was difficult to deport migrants to those nations. Two months ago, a Venezuelan woman broke her silence about being stranded in Mexico after she was arrested by ICE agents outside of her home in Florida. The woman, who asked not to be named to avoid more legal trouble, said she and others in her position were lied to by American and Mexican authorities, who both refused to give the migrants back their passports from their countries of origin. She said men, women and children were dumped onto the streets of cartel–controlled cities without money, IDs and even cell phones. 'We were terrified after we were told we could be kidnapped or forced into working for them,' she said. The South American mother lived in Florida for the last 20 years with her husband and three sons – two of which are US citizens. In 2013, she lost her legal case in immigration court and was ordered out of America. She remained in the US, despite the final deportation – which means she had exhausted all legal pathways. 'When Donald Trump won the presidency, I did begin to get nervous, knowing I had a deportation order, but I never thought I'd end up in Mexico,' she told in a phone interview from Mexico City. In March, less than two months after Trump returned to office, ICE tracked her down after seven years of evading authorities. 'I was leaving my house one morning with my husband. They were parked next to me on the street, in an unmarked car, no sign it was them,' she said. 'They said come with us. You're under arrest.' She was held in federal immigration detentions centers in Florida for about a week, and was told at the time she would be sent to Mexico. The migrant said she contacted her lawyer, but was told there was nothing that could be done.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Migrants in new race against time as bombshell ICE memo exposes chilling new 'third country' detail
Illegal immigrants could be given as little as six hours notice before they are deported to a country other than their homeland, according to a new memo. Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a top Trump administration lieutenant, issued a directive to agency staff on Wednesday, July 9, outlining the direction of deportations moving forward. He said migrants could be deported to a 'third country' with as little as six hours notice 'in exigent circumstances' – so long as the person had been given an opportunity to speak with an attorney. Generally, an immigrant will be given 24 hours notice before they are sent to a country other than their homeland. The memo states that migrants could be sent to nations that have pledged not to persecute or torture them 'without the need for further procedures.' The United States has sent hundreds of migrants to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama, while South Sudan recently accepted eight third–country deportees. These deportees were from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam. Rwanda is reportedly in talks to begin accepting third–country deportees, but human rights advocates have raised concerns over sending migrants to countries where they have no ties or that may have a history of rights violations. The administration last week urged officials from five African nations – Liberia, Senegal, Guinea–Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon – to accept deportees. The Supreme Court in June lifted a lower court's order limiting such deportations without a screening for fear of persecution in the destination country. The administration argues the third country deportations will help swiftly remove migrants who should not be in the US, including those with criminal convictions. Trina Realmuto, a lawyer for a group of migrants pursuing a class action lawsuit against rapid third–county deportations, said the policy 'falls far short of providing the statutory and due process protections that the law requires.' During Trump's 2017–2021 presidency, his administratio n deported small numbers of people from El Salvador and Honduras to Guatemala. Former President Joe Biden similarly struck a deal with Mexico to take thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, since it was difficult to deport migrants to those nations. Two months ago, a Venezuelan woman broke her silence about being stranded in Mexico after she was arrested by ICE agents outside of her home in Florida. The woman,who asked not to be named to avoid more legal trouble, said she and others in her position were lied to by American and Mexican authorities, who both refused to give the migrants back their passports from their countries of origin. She said men, women and children were dumped onto the streets of cartel–controlled cities without money, IDs and even cell phones. 'We were terrified after we were told we could be kidnapped or forced into working for them,' she said. The South American mother lived in Florida for the last 20 years with her husband and three sons – two of which are US citizens. In 2013, she lost her legal case in immigration court and was ordered out of America. She remained in the US, despite the final deportation – which means she had exhausted all legal pathways. 'When Donald Trump won the presidency, I did begin to get nervous, knowing I had a deportation order, but I never thought I'd end up in Mexico,' she told in a phone interview from Mexico City. In March, less than two months after Trump returned to office, ICE tracked her down after seven years of evading authorities. 'I was leaving my house one morning with my husband. They were parked next to me on the street, in an unmarked car, no sign it was them,' she said. 'They said come with us. You're under arrest.' She was held in federal immigration detentions centers in Florida for about a week, and was told at the time she would be sent to Mexico. The migrant said she contacted her lawyer, but was told there was nothing that could be done. Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Friday that the administration hopes to forge deals with 'many countries' to accept deported migrants. 'If there is a significant public threat or national security threat - there's one thing for sure - they're not walking the streets of this country,' he said.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Supreme Court Rejects Florida Ban On Undocumented Immigrants
The Supreme Court rejected Wednesday a request from the Florida government to let it enforce a law banning undocumented immigrants from entering the state, meaning the law will not go back into effect as the case moves forward. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks at a press conference on May 19. TNS The Supreme Court denied Florida's request to pause a lower court order, which blocked the state from enforcing its law making it a misdemeanor for undocumented immigrants to enter the state. This story is breaking and will be updated.
