An 'overwhelmed' council is appealing for government help after hundreds of Chagos Islanders landed in their borough, leaving them with huge accommodation bills.
Keir Starmer handed control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in May after 161 years of British rule, in a deal that was heavily criticised for compromising the security of a military base that will remain on the islands.
Chagos Islanders hold UK passports, and many left the territory ahead of the deal claiming they face persecution.
More than 400 Chagossians have arrived at Heathrow Airport in the London Borough of Hillingdon over the past year, creating an unsustainable demand on local services, the council has said.
Between July 2024 and March 2025, the local authority claims supporting the British Chagossians cost them over £508,000, while estimating this annual figure will skyrocket to £1.2million as more arrivals continue to pile in.
