Some undocumented Nigerians and other African migrants in the United Kingdom have reportedly resorted to sleeping in waste bins and on the streets as they try to avoid arrest and deportation following a tightening of the country’s immigration rules.
The development follows the British government’s immigration overhaul in 2025, tagged the ‘Plan for Change’, which triggered widespread anxiety among migrants without valid residency documents.
As part of the enforcement drive, the UK Home Office confirmed that dozens of people were deported in mid-2025, including 43 asylum seekers and offenders flown back to Nigeria and Ghana on a chartered flight.
The Home Office said those removed had no legal right to remain in the country, noting that the group included failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders who had completed their jail terms.
It added that the government would continue to strengthen border controls, cut net migration and restructure legal immigration to favour skills and economic contribution.
Amid the crackdown, a viral video shared by Diaspora Tales showed an African man sleeping inside a refuse bin on a snow-covered street in the UK, despite being advised by a passer-by to make use of a government shelter.
Nigerians living in the UK, who spoke to Diaspora Tales, said fear of being picked up by immigration officials had forced many undocumented migrants to abandon their homes and seek refuge on the streets.
A UK-based Nigerian, Mrs Gisela Esapa, said many of those sleeping rough were either undocumented, unemployed or involved in criminal activities, adding that homelessness was not limited to Nigerians or migrants alone.
She explained that British citizens and other Europeans also experienced homelessness, particularly those battling mental health issues, drug abuse or lack of valid residency documents.
Another Nigerian in London, who declined to be named, said several undocumented migrants now sleep at train stations and other public spaces, noting that many would endure harsh conditions rather than risk deportation.
However, a Nigerian resident in Bradford, Maxwell Adeyemi, dismissed claims that homelessness in the UK was linked to race or nationality, saying unemployment, crime and lack of documentation were the major drivers.
Reacting, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said Nigerians sleeping rough abroad were often facing the consequences of immigration violations, particularly visa overstays.
The commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the agency was not aware of recent cases of Nigerians sleeping on UK streets, adding that deportations usually involved overstayed visas and other breaches.
He noted that lawful residents, even when homeless, could access support from local councils, including temporary accommodation and shelters, stressing that assistance was available to those with valid status in the UK.
