British taxpayers have funded the accommodation and living costs of an American asylum seeker for more than a year, in a case that raises serious questions about the efficiency of the UK's immigration system.
A Claim Deemed "Clearly Unfounded"
Olabode Shoniregun, a 27-year-old university-educated man from Las Vegas, arrived at Gatwick Airport on October 23, 2024. He presented a US passport and claimed he was fleeing persecution in America because he is black, Jewish, and a Mormon. Despite the United States being considered a safe country, he was placed into the asylum system.
His claim was processed while he lived in a series of migrant hotels, enjoying free accommodation, food, and support. However, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rejected his application in June 2025. In a 22-page letter, officials stated his protection and human rights claims were certified as "clearly unfounded." The letter explicitly told him: "You must now leave the United Kingdom. You do not have a right of appeal."
Defying Removal and Accessing Benefits
Despite the rejection and a formal order to leave, Mr Shoniregun did not depart. After being evicted from the Holiday Inn in Wembley where he had been housed, he successfully applied for and received benefits from Islington Council. He stated he received £400 per month until recently, alongside charity support.
In a bizarre twist, Border Force located him before Christmas 2025 and offered him a place on the Voluntary Returns Scheme. This included £1,500 in cash and a flight ticket back to Las Vegas. Footage shows him signing the agreement and surrendering his passport. Yet, when he arrived at Heathrow for his flight, he did not board. He later claimed the Home Office "forgot" to book his ticket, leaving him stranded—an assertion the Home Office disputes, stating the airline deemed him unfit to fly.
Contradictions and Social Media Documentation
The case is riddled with inconsistencies. Mr Shoniregun claimed persecution by US law enforcement and his family, yet his social media posts fondly referenced "Mum and Dad" shortly after his arrival. He asserted he was born in the UK at Whittington Hospital and has applied for a British passport, but immigration rules state citizenship is not automatic for those born after 1983 without a British or settled parent.
He also claimed a "well-founded fear" in the US but was documented attending a rally for Kamala Harris just before leaving. Now sleeping rough in London, he has documented his entire "odyssey" online, thanking UK taxpayers and arguing he deserves more financial support. The Home Office states it is "working to remove him as soon as possible."
This extraordinary situation, where an individual from a safe country has accessed state support for over 14 months after a rejected claim, highlights significant challenges within the UK's asylum and removal processes.
