UK Abruptly Ends Afghan Resettlement Programs, Leaving Thousands at Risk

Reported by Kokcha News Agency:
The UK government has abruptly ended its Afghan resettlement programs without prior notice, leaving thousands of vulnerable Afghans at risk. The decision, outlined in a low-profile explanatory note issued by the Home Office, has sparked outrage among human rights and refugee advocacy groups.

Closure of Key Programs
The Ministry of Defence’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which aimed to resettle Afghans who assisted British forces, closed to new applications at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1. The scheme now only applies to those who submitted applications between April 1, 2021, and before the July 1, 2025 cutoff.

Simultaneously, the Home Office has also ended new intakes under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to help vulnerable Afghan nationals and those linked to British civil and military operations. With both schemes closed, no legal routes remain open for new Afghan applicants seeking UK protection.

Humanitarian Outcry
Humanitarian groups have condemned the move as a betrayal of vulnerable people left behind. Gunesh Kalkan, head of a refugee support charity, said the closure “leaves children and families we support in danger and without hope.” She urged the UK government to expand, not restrict, safe migration pathways.

Poor Communication and Systemic Failures
Dr. Sara de Jong, an academic and refugee rights advocate, described the sudden closure as shocking and poorly communicated. “Not even half an hour before the deadline, there was any update on official websites. What about applicants waiting on appeals or preparing submissions?” she asked.

De Jong also highlighted that while the UK had pledged to resettle 20,000 at-risk Afghans by 2021, only 65 percent of that goal has been met.

Family Reunification Still Possible
Despite the policy changes, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Afghans previously granted eligibility may still apply for family reunification. However, critics argue that the government’s handling of the program has been marred by systemic failures. The UK High Court previously described the processing of Afghan special forces’ cases as so mishandled that it resembled a “crime scene.”

Calls for Review and Reinstatement
By the end of May 2025, more than 21,000 Afghans had been resettled in the UK through the ARAP and ACRS programs. Yet widespread delays, misjudgments, and administrative errors have left hundreds of eligible individuals stranded in Afghanistan and exposed to Taliban threats. Advocacy groups are calling for a review and urgent reinstatement of accessible and safe migration channels.