Several undocumented Nigerians and other African migrants in the United Kingdom have reportedly been forced into homelessness, with some sleeping on the streets and in waste bins, as fear grows over intensified immigration enforcement by British authorities.
The development follows the UK government’s 2025 immigration overhaul, known as the “Plan for Change,” which introduced stricter measures aimed at reducing illegal migration and accelerating deportations. As part of the policy, the Home Office confirmed that dozens of undocumented migrants, including failed asylum seekers and foreign nationals with criminal convictions, were deported to Nigeria and Ghana via charter flights.
According to eyewitness accounts and diaspora reports, anxiety over arrest and removal has led some undocumented migrants to abandon their residences and avoid public shelters, opting instead to sleep in secluded public spaces such as train stations, streets, and waste disposal areas.
A video that circulated online recently showed an African man sleeping inside a refuse bin on a snow-covered street in the UK, drawing widespread reactions on social media. Nigerians living in the UK who spoke anonymously said similar scenes were becoming more common, as undocumented migrants attempted to stay out of the sight of immigration officials.
Community members and diaspora advocates, however, cautioned against broad generalisations, noting that homelessness in the UK affects people of various nationalities and backgrounds. Some Nigerians interviewed attributed the situation to a combination of unemployment, lack of valid residence documents, mental health challenges, and substance abuse.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) stated that it had not received official reports of Nigerians sleeping on the streets in recent months, stressing that individuals facing deportation were typically those who had overstayed their visas or violated immigration laws.
UK authorities maintain that lawful residents, even if homeless, remain eligible for support from local councils, including temporary accommodation and shelters. However, undocumented migrants often avoid these services out of fear that seeking assistance could expose them to immigration enforcement.
The situation has reignited discussions around migration pressures, human rights concerns, and the social consequences of stricter immigration policies affecting vulnerable migrant communities in the United Kingdom
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