Our June Update - UK closes the door on Afghans but We won’t

We are devastated to learn that the UK Government has ruthlessly shut down its resettlement routes for Afghans fleeing the Taliban. Without warning or public consultation, the Home Office buried this decision in a technical memorandum to new immigration rules, cutting off almost the only safe ways for Afghans to reach the UK.

This move is not only cruel but counterproductive. At a time when the Government claims it wants to reduce dangerous boat crossings, it has shut down a pathway that allowed eligible Afghans - many with ties to Britain - to come here safely. These changes will only push more people into riskier routes.

The schemes themselves were already extremely restrictive, with the vast majority of people not eligible. With most people locked out, Afghan refugees have long been forced to take dangerous journeys and account for 15% of people arriving by boat. Expect this figure to rise further now these schemes are closed.

The schemes themselves were far from perfect. Many Afghans eligible for relocation were wrongly rejected due to errors by Home Office caseworkers. Our client Hamidullah, who worked at the British Embassy in Kabul for 18 years, remains separated from his two sons in Afghanistan. His story was recently featured in The Independent: “I worked for the British in Kabul embassy for 18 years. Let me reunite with my sons”.

This is not an isolated story; but these schemes did at least offer hope to Afghan refugees. The government has removed that hope.

What We Got Up To This June
Despite the tough news, we continue to build and celebrate the power of community.

Refugee Week: Community as a Superpower
We hosted a vibrant Refugee Week celebration at our community hub in Ilford. The theme this year “Community as a Superpower” was brought to life by our clients: refugees, asylum seekers and migrants from across London. There was food, music, games, and connection. If you missed it, watch our short highlight video for a dose of hope and solidarity.

London Legal Walk
We also took part in the London Legal Walk, standing with others to demand a properly funded legal aid system. Everyone deserves access to justice, not just those who can afford it. The legal aid crisis is pushing too many into homelessness, detention, destitution, and even deportation. We walked to say: enough is enough.
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Casework Successes in June
In June, our casework team helped change lives:
✅ 21 families secured permanent immigration status
✅ 16 people were granted leave to remain
✅ 10 individuals gained British citizenship