A single Afghan migrant was allowed to bring 22 relatives to Britain under a secretive resettlement scheme that has now sparked outrage over security, cost, and government transparency.
The unprecedented case emerged this week after the High Court lifted a super-injunction that had concealed the fallout from a 2022 Ministry of Defence data breach—described as the most damaging in British history. The leak, caused by a Royal Marine’s email error, exposed thousands of Afghans linked to UK forces to potential Taliban retaliation.
The government responded by launching a classified evacuation programme, the Afghanistan Response Route. But court rulings significantly expanded the definition of “family member,” allowing claimants to bring in large extended families—regardless of blood or legal ties.
Previously, just 10% of those now entering would have qualified under existing rules. Now, officials estimate over 12,000 additional relatives may be eligible due to the breach. In one case, ministers reportedly considered knocking two military homes into one to accommodate a single family unit.
The scheme’s estimated cost has ballooned to £6 billion, fuelling backlash from across the political spectrum. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the public had been “betrayed,” warning the influx includes individuals with criminal pasts who had previously been denied asylum.
While Defence Secretary John Healey insists that all arrivals were “carefully” vetted, critics say genuine allies were left behind while Britain’s asylum system was quietly rewritten under cover of secrecy.
