Key Takeaways
- Undocumented Nigerians and other Africans in the UK are sleeping in waste bins on the streets to evade deportations
- The UK government’s "Plan for Change" immigration policy overhaul has led to increased deportations and fear among migrants
- Crimes, homelessness, and lack of documentation are common factors forcing people into homelessness in the UK
- The UK government provides assistance to lawful homeless residents, including temporary accommodation and food
- The Nigerian community in the UK is urging migrants to seek help and avoid sleeping on the streets, emphasizing that being homeless has nothing to do with color or nationality
Introduction to the Crisis
The United Kingdom has been facing a growing crisis of undocumented migrants, including Nigerians and other Africans, who are sleeping in waste bins on the streets to evade deportations. This crisis has been exacerbated by the UK government’s "Plan for Change" immigration policy overhaul, which was implemented in 2025. The policy has sent a wave of fear among migrants, with those without legal status being deported in mid-2025. The Home Office announced that 43 asylum seekers and offenders were returned on a charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana, with the majority being failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders who had served their sentences.
The Fear of Deportation
The fear of being caught, detained, and deported has forced many illegal migrants to leave their homes and sleep on the streets. A viral video obtained by Diaspora Tales showed an African man sleeping in a bin on a snowy street in the UK, with a European man asking him to go and make use of a shelter provided by the UK government. Reacting to the video, Nigerians in the UK who spoke to Diaspora Tales said that the fear of deportation had become a major concern for many migrants. They noted that many migrants who sleep on the streets and in bins were usually those engaging in crimes and facing homelessness.
Crimes and Homelessness
Mrs. Gisela Esapa, a Nigerian woman living in Dunstable County, said that many migrants who sleep on the streets and in bins were usually those engaging in crimes and facing homelessness. She noted that some Nigerians arrived in the UK illegally and became unemployed and homeless, while others who were mentally unstable and using drugs often turned the streets into homes. Esapa added that many migrants lived in Luton, and she saw how they behaved, with some people being afraid to even go to facilities provided by the UK government, thinking they might be arrested, detained, and deported. Another Nigerian in London, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that many homeless immigrants were sleeping at train stations, and that illegal migrants would do anything, including sleeping on the streets, to avoid deportation.
Breaking Stereotypes
Meanwhile, a Nigerian in Bradford, Maxwell Adeyemi, told Diaspora Tales that being homeless in the UK had nothing to do with color or nationality. He explained that several conditions, such as unemployment, lack of documents, and crimes, were common factors forcing people into homelessness. Adeyemi clarified that most homeless people were not even black but Asians and whites from Eastern Europe, highlighting the need to break down stereotypes and misconceptions about homelessness in the UK. He emphasized that being homeless was not a problem unique to any particular group, but rather a complex issue that required a comprehensive solution.
Consequences of Crimes
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission spoke on the matter and said that many Nigerians who have become homeless in the UK were only facing the consequences of their crimes. Speaking for NIDCOM, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that migrants would start avoiding immigration officials when they have overstayed their visas and refused to return to Nigeria. Balogun added that NIDCOM was not aware of recent cases where Nigerians were sleeping on the streets in the UK, but noted that the commission only receives deportees when the governments hosting Nigerians involve them in the deportation of illegal migrants.
Seeking Help and Assistance
Diaspora Tales reports that the UK government is only removing migrants without legal status, which guarantees that even lawful homeless people can receive help. Such assistance usually comes from local councils providing temporary accommodation like hostels and shelters. Esapa added that there are facilities for people who are homeless to sleep, and while some provide food, the most important thing is that those who are lawful residents in the UK always get help. The UK government’s approach highlights the importance of documentation and legal status in accessing essential services and support for homeless individuals. By providing assistance to lawful residents, the government aims to address the root causes of homelessness and support those in need, while also ensuring that migrants comply with immigration laws and regulations.