Rwanda Act's Impact on Afghan Asylum Seekers in The UK

 

The UK government’s new law to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing has caused fear among many Afghans seeking asylum in Britain. This Act, intended to ensure safety in Rwanda, brings uncertainties for Afghan asylum seekers in the UK — particularly those arriving by boat across the English Channel. With parliament giving final approval, worries are growing around the fate of Afghans awaiting decisions on their asylum applications.

Around 13,000 Afghan nationals were waiting for the Home Office to decide their cases as of June 2023. It remains unclear how many could potentially be transferred to Rwanda. The new Illegal Migration Act says asylum claims are inadmissible for those reaching the UK without documents. As a result, many Afghan asylum seekers face the prospect of being relocated to Rwanda where they cannot apply for protection.

While two government programs aim to resettle Afghans who aided the UK, some asylum seekers who did not qualify or apply have resorted to Channel crossings. About 21,500 Afghans received settlement under these schemes, but over three times as many claimed asylum between January 2022 and June 2023. Boat arrivals from Afghanistan rose sharply after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with Afghans becoming the top nationality in the first half of 2023.

Despite high grant rates for Afghan claims and existing resettlement schemes, some individuals previously recognized still fall through gaps. An MP highlighted one constituent, a 15-year British armed forces veteran, struggling to reunite with family ineligible for programs. The future remains uncertain for many Afghan asylum seekers in Britain with concerns over potential Rwanda deportations and challenges faced outside of schemes.