Pakistani, Bangladeshi migrants pretend to be gay to remain in UK: Report

Key Points:

• An undercover BBC investigation revealed that migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh are being charged thousands of pounds by immigration advisors to fabricate asylum claims based on false sexual orientation stories to remain in the UK.
• Migrants nearing the end of their visas are coached to create fake evidence and cover stories claiming they face persecution for being gay, leveraging the UK's asylum protections for LGBTQ+ individuals from countries where homosexuality is illegal.
• Asylum claims based on such fabricated stories now constitute 35% of all claims, with Pakistan and Bangladesh topping the list in 2023, followed by Nigeria, India, and Uganda.
• The BBC's operation involved undercover reporters posing as students with expiring visas, uncovering fake news sites, staged protests, and bogus medical conditions used to exploit the asylum system.
• Labour MP Jo White and Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for a crackdown on fraudulent asylum claims and immigration advisors, urging stricter visa controls and an overhaul of the asylum system to prioritize genuine cases.