Arabic version: تحقيق يكشف عن مطالبات لجوء احتيالية من قبل المهاجرين

A recent undercover investigation by the BBC has uncovered a troubling trend where legal advisers are assisting migrants in fabricating claims of being gay to secure asylum in the UK. According to BBC News, these advisers are charging significant fees to help individuals create false narratives, including fake medical reports and supporting letters, to bolster their asylum applications.

The investigation highlights how migrants, particularly those from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh where homosexuality is criminalized, are being coached to present themselves as gay to avoid deportation. This practice has reportedly become a lucrative business for some law firms, with fees reaching up to £7,000 for a fabricated asylum claim. The Home Office has stated that it will take legal action against anyone found exploiting the asylum system.

Asylum claims in the UK have surged, with more than 100,000 applications filed in 2025 alone. A significant portion of these claims—35%—are from individuals whose visas have expired, rather than those arriving through illegal means. Undercover reporters posed as students from the aforementioned countries, discovering that some advisers openly discussed methods to create fake evidence and claims.

At a community meeting in east London, many attendees admitted that they were not actually gay, contradicting the purpose of the gathering which was intended to support genuine LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. One participant stated, “Nobody is gay here. Not even 1% are gay.”

The investigation also revealed that some advisers have been operating for years, providing detailed guidance on how to navigate the asylum process through deceit. This includes creating fake relationships and evidence to support their claims. The complexity of these fraudulent practices raises concerns about the integrity of the asylum process in the UK.