Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, is set to announce the reopening of the UK Resettlement Scheme, aiming to provide safe routes for refugees and reduce small boat crossings. The Home Office anticipates that about 25% of the new arrivals will be Afghan women and girls and Palestinians, with plans for community sponsorship routes to support the resettlement process.
The scheme, which had paused new applications in December 2024, is expected to facilitate the arrival of hundreds of refugees, with a cap on the number of annual admissions yet to be disclosed. Mahmood emphasizes the need for a controlled approach while fulfilling international obligations to assist those fleeing conflict and persecution.