UK legal advisers allegedly help migrants fabricate gay asylum claims
via Punch Nigeria7 hours ago2 min read
A BBC undercover investigation has revealed allegations that some legal advisers and firms in the United Kingdom are assisting migrants in fabricating claims of being gay to secure asylum. The report states that migrants with expiring visas were allegedly coached to present false claims, including being provided with cover stories and instructions on how to produce supporting evidence such as photographs, medical reports, and letters. Some advisers reportedly charged thousands of pounds for these applications, with one firm allegedly demanding up to £7,000. The investigation claimed that one undercover reporter was advised to attend gay clubs for photographic evidence, and another adviser allegedly offered to arrange a fake same-sex relationship. In one case, an adviser was quoted suggesting an applicant could later bring his wife to the UK and help her submit a separate claim by posing as a lesbian. The UK Home Office stated that anyone found exploiting the asylum system would face legal consequences, including removal from the UK. The BBC noted this trend primarily involved migrants whose work, study, or tourist visas had expired, rather than those arriving through irregular routes, and these applicants accounted for about 35 percent of asylum claims in 2025. Data cited in the investigation indicated Nigeria recorded 103 asylum claims based on sexual orientation in 2023. An immigration lawyer described the practice as fraudulent, warning it could undermine genuine asylum cl
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Original source
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
