The UK government has reopened a refugee resettlement scheme for vulnerable people seeking safe entry into Britain.
The move is part of a wider effort to expand safe and legal routes for refugees.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood announced the decision during the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool.
She said fairness would remain an important part of the government’s immigration policy.
The reopened scheme will begin immediately. It is initially expected to bring hundreds of vulnerable people to the UK.
The program will operate with support from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) will also work with the program.
The scheme follows the closure of an Afghan resettlement route last year. The government has now introduced the broader arrangement for refugees.
According to Mahmood, around one-quarter of those accepted could be Afghan women and girls. Palestinians are also expected to form part of the group.
She said the UK would provide vulnerable refugees with an opportunity for a new life. The first arrivals under the reopened scheme are expected this year.
The government will also expand community-based refugee sponsorship. Charities and nonprofit organizations will be able to apply as sponsors.
Applications for sponsorship are expected to open within days. The first arrivals through the community sponsorship route could come within about a year.
The Interior Ministry said legal refugee arrivals could eventually reach the low thousands. This increase would depend partly on falling levels of irregular migration.
An annual limit will also be introduced under the new arrangements. The cap is intended to provide a defined limit for the program.
The announcement comes amid wider debate over immigration policy in the UK. Some Labour Party members have raised concerns about planned immigration changes.
The government is also considering tougher rules for legal migration. Some proposals could affect how quickly migrants qualify for permanent settlement.
Under possible changes, some legal migrants could wait several additional years. They would then become eligible to apply for permanent settlement.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has expressed concerns about some proposed changes. She said the plans could alter expectations for people already following existing rules.
The government is therefore balancing different immigration priorities. These include expanding legal refugee routes and reducing irregular migration.
The reopened UK refugee scheme represents a new step in that approach. It will focus on vulnerable people selected through established resettlement channels.
The program will involve international organizations and community sponsors. Further details are expected as applications and arrivals begin.
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The UK government has also indicated that the number of legal refugee arrivals may increase over time. However, the annual cap will determine the eventual scale of the program.
