HOMELESS people from outside the UK will not be deported if found sleeping on the streets of Oxford, the city council has pledged.

The council, which is responsible for housing the homeless in the city, stated it would not co-operate with a new law, introduced on December 1, which means the Home Office has the power to deport foreign nationals for sleeping on the street even for just one night.

This includes people legally living in the UK, who could see their permission to stay refused or cancelled.

Mike Rowley, cabinet member for affordable housing and housing the homeless, said: “The change to immigration rules leaves people liable to be deported if they sleep rough for just one night. This is not only bad policy because it puts people at risk if they’ve been subject to violence, illegally evicted or lost their job because of the pandemic – it’s also disgusting and immoral."

He added: “We will not cooperate with this and we will continue to do what we can to help everyone experiencing rough sleeping in Oxford – treating everyone with compassion and respect, regardless of their nationality and whether they have recourse to public funds or not.”

HELP THE HOMELESS: Read about the Christmas appeal to help rough sleepers in Oxfordshire

The council first promised that Oxford homelessness services would never pass on people’s personal data without their explicit consent in July 2019, following reports that the Home Office planned to use charities to target non-UK rough sleepers.

Oxford was one of the first councils to make this commitment.

Jane Cranston, chair of Oxfordshire Homeless Movement and co-signatory of a call for the Government to reconsider the new rules, said: “Along with many others who work in and alongside the sector I am very concerned that the effect of the new immigration rules will be to lead homeless and rough sleeping immigrants not to seek support.

"Should we be running the risk that fear of being deported will lead those who are already vulnerable being exploited and even becoming victims of modern slavery?”

Cambridge City Council made a similar pledge that it would not comply with the new rules allowing the Government to deport foreign nationals sleeping rough last week.

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