Did you know that one in twelve residents of London may be living in the UK illegally? According to a once-confidential report, close to 600,000 people in the capital have no legal right to remain in the UK.
This startling figure comes from a study commissioned by Thames Water, which aimed to account for “hidden” users of its services. Researchers from Edge Analytics estimated this number by analysing national statistics on undocumented migrants and National Insurance registrations for non-EU nationals over nine years.
Key Findings:
- Illegal immigrants in London: Between 390,000 and 585,000, with a median estimate of 487,944.
- Nationwide figures: Approximately 1 million undocumented migrants live across the UK, with 60% in London.
- Most entered on visitor, work, or student visas and overstayed.
Despite these staggering numbers, the UK Home Office does not release comprehensive data on illegal migrants. Instead, their focus has been on tracking Channel crossings, with 1,019 migrants already arriving by small boats in 2025—setting a record pace for the year.
Political Reactions:
This issue has sparked outrage among politicians:
- Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stressed that laws must prevent abuse of claims like modern slavery or human rights to delay deportations.
- Richard Tice of Reform UK argued that illegal immigrants are using taxpayer-funded services and emphasized the need for tighter border controls.
Why It Matters:
This affects everyone in London, including Nigerians in the UK, as undocumented migrants put additional strain on public services and contribute to rising tensions over immigration policies.
For us in the Nigerian community, this serves as a reminder to ensure our immigration statuses are in order and to stay informed about changes to UK policies that might affect us or our loved ones.
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