In a critical appeal, a coalition of lawyers, caseworkers, members of the Afghan community and legal organisations led by RLS and ILPA have sent an urgent letter to the new prime minister on his first day in office.
We’re calling on the new government to honour the UK’s commitments and prevent further loss of life by providing safe routes, offering a welcome and taking responsibility for Afghans in need of safety.
The UK’s responsibility to Afghans in peril should not be understated. The UK government’s work with Afghan national’s during its operations in, and subsequent departure from, Afghanistan has directly jeopardised the safety and livelihood of thousands of people and their families.
Key Points from the letter:
- Commitment to Afghan Allies: the UK Government’s operations in Afghanistan and subsequent withdrawal have left thousands of Afghans and their families in peril. The government is urged to honour its commitments by providing safe routes and ensuring the resettlement of these individuals.
- Resettlement Scheme Failures: research from the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative, JUSTICE, the Refugee Council and the Chief Inspector of Borders & Immigration indicates that current Afghan Resettlement Schemes (ARAP and ACRS) are plagued by severe delays, critical errors, and lack of transparency, putting lives at risk and causing despair among applicants.
- Statistics Highlight Urgent Need: the government aimed to resettle over 20,000 people. However, of 100,000 applications to ARAP in its first year only 15,592 were relocated by May 2024.
- Rising Danger for Afghans: as Afghans are facing significant danger because of delays, the number of Afghans risking dangerous Channel crossings has increased. 5,662 Afghan arrivals in the year ending March 2024, compared to 554 in 2020.
Recommendations for Improvement:
- Processing Times: increase the speed of application processing and improve caseworker training to reduce delays. Many people are having to wait years for a decision.
- Exceptional Circumstances: introduce a mechanism for expediting applications under “exceptional circumstances”.
- Challenging Delays: implement a process for applicants to challenge substantial delays.
- Data Collection: enhance data collection and handling for accurate reporting.
- Transparency: provide clear guidelines on application criteria, decision-making processes and timelines.
- Biometric Requirements: waive formal biometric requirements or provide alternative means of satisfying them.
- Equality: ensure the Resettlement Schemes accommodate vulnerable groups with updated eligibility criteria and regular Equality Impact Assessments.
The letter can be read in full below.
