Afghan Who ‘Couch Surfed’ for 8 Years Wins High Court Battle to Stay in London

A judge ruled that the Home Secretary acted unlawfully to move the illegal immigrant to hotel accommodation away from his ’support network' in south London.

A general view of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, home to the High Court, on Oct. 8, 2018. Jack Taylor/Getty Images

An illegal immigrant who “couch surfed’ for 8 years has won a high court battle to be housed in the city of his choice.

The Afghan national—who arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied child in 2015—successfully challenged the Home Secretary by judicial review after his request to be housed in a hotel in London was refused.