Healey Confirms No Automatic Resettlement Right for Afghans in Data Leak

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 19,000 Afghans’ data leaked in 2022, impacting ARAP applicants.
• About 4,500 Afghans secretly resettled under ARR, with no automatic right.
• ARAP and ACRS closed July 1, 2025; only pending cases processed.

Thousands of Afghans who worked alongside British forces or supported the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 mission in Afghanistan have faced a long period of uncertainty after a major data leak exposed their personal details. On July 16, 2025, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed in Parliament that there is no automatic right to resettlement for Afghans affected by this data leak under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) or related schemes. This announcement follows years of secrecy, legal restrictions, and the eventual closure of key Afghan resettlement routes.

What happened, who is affected, and what does this mean for Afghans seeking safety in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧? Here’s a detailed look at the events, government response, and what comes next for those caught up in this crisis.

The Data Leak: What Went Wrong

In February 2022, a spreadsheet containing the personal information of nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants to the ARAP scheme was accidentally leaked. Many of these individuals had worked with or for British forces during the conflict in Afghanistan. The government only discovered the breach 18 months later, when some of the leaked data surfaced on Facebook. This delay in detection raised serious concerns about the safety of those whose details were exposed, especially given the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.

For over two years, the existence of the data leak and the government’s secret response—known as the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR)—was hidden from both the public and Parliament under a rare legal tool called a super-injunction. This injunction was lifted in July 2025, allowing the Labour government to finally disclose the full scope of the breach and the steps taken to address it.

Government Response: Secret Resettlement and Public Apology

Defence Secretary John Healey publicly apologized for the secrecy and distress caused by the data breach. He confirmed that, since the breach, the government had quietly resettled thousands of Afghans in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 under the ARR. However, Healey made it clear that not all Afghans whose data was leaked were automatically granted resettlement. Instead, the government set up a process to identify and relocate only those considered to be at the highest risk of Taliban reprisals.

“All individuals relocated under these schemes underwent strict national security checks before entry to the UK,” Healey told Parliament. “There is no blanket or automatic right to resettlement for all those affected by the data leak; each case was individually assessed.”

This approach, while aiming to balance national security with humanitarian responsibility, has left many Afghans in limbo, unsure if they will ever be offered safety in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧.

Numbers and Scope: Who Has Been Resettled?

The scale of the data leak and the government’s response is significant:

• Nearly 19,000 Afghans had their personal data exposed in the breach.
• About 4,500 Afghans (including 900 principal applicants and 3,600 family members) have been brought to the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 under the secret ARR programme since the breach.
• The total number expected to be relocated by the time the programme closes is about 6,900 people.
• The cost of the secret resettlement operation is estimated at £850 million.
• Since 2021, around 36,000 Afghans have been relocated to the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 under all resettlement routes, with the broader effort costing up to £7 billion.

These figures highlight both the scale of the UK’s commitment and the limits placed on who can benefit from these schemes.

Policy Details: How Were People Chosen?

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) were designed to help Afghans who had supported the UK mission and were at risk because of their work. However, after the data leak, the government made it clear that eligibility was not automatic for those affected.

Key points about the process:

• Only Afghans whose data was compromised and who were assessed to be at the greatest risk from the Taliban were considered for resettlement.
• Each case was individually assessed based on risk and security concerns.
• All those approved for relocation underwent strict national security checks.
• Immediate family members (spouse and children under 18) of eligible principal applicants were automatically considered for relocation. Additional family members could be included if applications were made within 30 days of accepting an ARAP offer.
• The ARAP scheme closed to new principal applicants at 3pm BST on July 1, 2025. Only applications received before this deadline will be processed.
• The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is also closed to new pathways as of July 2025.

There is no automatic right to resettlement for Afghans affected by the data leak. Each case is reviewed on its own merits, and all major resettlement pathways are now closed to new applicants.

Legal and Advocacy Group Reactions

Lawyers representing Afghan claimants have described the data breach as “catastrophic,” saying it caused significant anxiety and distress for those affected. Advocacy groups have criticized the government for betraying the trust of Afghans who risked their lives to support the UK mission.

One lawyer involved in the case said, “Many of these people believed they would be protected by the UK. The secrecy and lack of transparency have left them feeling abandoned.”

Advocacy organizations argue that the government’s response—especially the secrecy and the lack of automatic protection—has undermined trust and left some vulnerable individuals unprotected.

Government and Former Officials: Defending the Approach

Defence Secretary John Healey has taken responsibility for the public disclosure and apologized for the distress caused. He insists that the government’s approach was necessary to balance security and humanitarian needs.

Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace defended the initial secrecy, arguing that it was needed to protect lives, not to cover up mistakes. “The secrecy was about keeping people safe,” Wallace said, “not about hiding errors.”

The government has also pointed to an independent review, which found little evidence that the leaked data would significantly increase the risk of Taliban reprisals. The review noted that the Taliban already had other sources of information and was more focused on current threats to its authority.

What Does This Mean for Afghans Still at Risk?

For Afghans who have not already applied under ARAP or ARR, the door is now closed. Only those with pending applications submitted before July 1, 2025, will be processed. There are no new applications being accepted for any of the main Afghan resettlement schemes.

For those already in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧:

• Transitional accommodation is provided for up to 9 months under the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP).
• After this period, households are expected to move to permanent housing.
• The Home Office and local government continue to support Afghan arrivals, but the focus is now on integrating those already in the country rather than accepting new applicants.

For those still waiting:

• If you applied before the July 1, 2025 deadline, your application will still be processed.
• If you did not apply before this date, there are currently no further resettlement pathways planned.

Official Guidance and Resources

For the latest official information, refer to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy guidance on the UK government website. This page provides up-to-date details on eligibility, application status, and support services.

If you have questions about ARAP or need to contact the Ministry of Defence, use the official contact channels listed on the UK government site. For integration and support services, reach out to the Home Office or your local government resettlement team.

Background: How Did We Get Here?

The United Kingdom 🇬🇧 has a long history of supporting Afghans who worked with British forces. In August 2021, during Operation Pitting, the UK carried out its largest military evacuation in 70 years, bringing around 15,000 people to safety after the fall of Kabul.

Following this, several resettlement schemes were launched:

• ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy): Started in April 2021, aimed at Afghans who worked for or with the UK government in Afghanistan.
• ACRS (Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme): Focused on vulnerable Afghans, including women, children, and those at risk due to their work or beliefs.
• ARR (Afghanistan Response Route): Created in response to the data leak, specifically for those whose information was compromised and who were at the highest risk.

Each scheme had strict eligibility criteria and time-limited application windows. As of July 2025, all major pathways are now closed.

Multiple Perspectives: Government, Critics, and the Afghan Community

Government View:
The UK government says it has fulfilled its duty to those who served with British forces, but insists on strict eligibility and security checks. Officials argue that open-ended resettlement would not be possible or safe.

Critics’ View:
Many advocacy groups and legal experts argue that the government’s response has left too many at risk. They say the secrecy, lack of transparency, and the decision not to grant automatic resettlement to all affected by the data leak have undermined trust and left some vulnerable people behind.

Afghan Community:
For Afghans who supported the UK mission, the closure of these schemes and the lack of automatic protection have caused deep anxiety. Many feel abandoned after risking their lives for British forces.

Implications for the Future

The lifting of the super-injunction and the public disclosure of the data leak are expected to lead to further scrutiny in Parliament and possible legal challenges. Advocacy groups are likely to push for more transparency and support for those still at risk.

However, as of July 2025, the UK government has made it clear that no further resettlement pathways are planned for Afghans under the closed schemes. The focus is now on integrating those already in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 and supporting their transition to permanent life in the country.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

• No automatic right to resettlement: Each case is individually assessed, even for those affected by the data leak.
• All major Afghan resettlement schemes are now closed to new applicants.
• Pending applications submitted before July 1, 2025, will still be processed.
• Support for Afghan arrivals now focuses on integration and permanent housing.
• Further legal and political scrutiny is expected following the lifting of the super-injunction.

If you are an Afghan affected by these changes, check the official ARAP guidance for the latest updates and contact details.

Summary Table: Key Schemes and Status (as of July 16, 2025)

Practical Guidance for Affected Individuals

• If you have a pending application: Wait for official communication. The government will continue to process applications received before the deadline.
• If you are already in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧: Work with local authorities and support services to move from transitional to permanent housing.
• If you did not apply before July 1, 2025: There are currently no new resettlement routes available.
• For more information: Visit the official ARAP guidance page.

Conclusion

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, the data leak, and the government’s response have shaped the lives of thousands of Afghans seeking safety in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧. While the government, led by Defence Secretary John Healey, has apologized for the distress caused and has resettled many at risk, the lack of an automatic right to resettlement and the closure of all major pathways mean that many Afghans remain in uncertainty. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the focus now shifts to supporting those already in the country and addressing the long-term impacts of these decisions on the Afghan community and the UK’s reputation for offering protection to those in need.

Learn Today

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) → UK program to resettle Afghans who aided British forces, now closed to new applicants.
Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) → A secret UK resettlement pathway for Afghans at highest risk after a data leak.
Super-injunction → A legal order preventing public or parliamentary disclosure of sensitive government information.
National security checks → Rigorous assessments conducted to ensure individuals pose no risk before UK resettlement.
Data leak → Unauthorized release of personal information, here exposing nearly 19,000 Afghan ARAP applicants.

This Article in a Nutshell

In 2022, a leak exposed thousands of Afghan ARAP applicants’ data. The UK secretly resettled 4,500 at highest risk under ARR but denied automatic rights. All major Afghan resettlement programs closed by July 2025, shifting focus to integrating existing Afghan arrivals.
— By VisaVerge.com