Resettlement
Many of the measures contained within the Act are intended to reduce illegal migration and the criminality associated with it. In parallel, the Government intends to enhance resettlement routes to continue to provide pathways for refugees to be granted protection in the UK.
	Between 2015 and 2019, around 25,000 15 refugees were resettled and a further 29,000 16 close relatives through refugee family reunion. Over the last 5 years, the UK’s resettlement efforts have been focused on resettling people from countries hosting large numbers of refugees, such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey in response to the Syrian conflict.
	Following the passing of China’s National Security Law, which restricts the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, the UK introduced an immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) status holders. This route provides the opportunity for such individuals and their family members to live, work and study in the United Kingdom. In the first quarter of 2021, approximately 34,300 individuals 17 submitted an application for this route to citizenship.
	Going forward, the Government intends to broaden the scope of the United Kingdom’s protection offer to encompass persecuted refugees from a broader range of minority groups. Under the New Plan for Immigration, refugees who are resettled into the United Kingdom will be granted indefinite leave to remain and receive enhanced integration support.
	The United Kingdom’s commitment to resettling refugees will continue to be a multi-year commitment with numbers subject to ongoing review guided by circumstances and capacity at any given time.