A BBC investigation uncovers a shocking network of immigration advisers and law firms in Britain. It allegedly helps migrants fabricate asylum claims by pretending to be gay. The report, released on Wednesday, focuses on people from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Undercover Sting Traps Advisers Offering Full Packages
Reporters posed as international students and approached several firms. At Connaught Law in central London, senior adviser Aqeel Abbasi quoted £7,000 for the service and promised a very low chance of refusal.
Moreover, he suggested ways to explain away a wife still living in Pakistan. In addition, another adviser linked to Law and Justice Solicitors in Birmingham offered a complete package. It included staged letters, photographs and even interview training for £2,500 plus extra fees if the case went to appeal.
The investigation also traced connections to Worcester LGBT, a support group that holds monthly meetings for gay asylum seekers. Paralegal Mazedul Hasan Shakil and his associate Tanisa Khan allegedly directed clients straight to the “gay case” route as the only realistic way to stay in Britain. Tanisa reportedly told one reporter that “there is nobody who is real” and everyone follows the same method.
Pakistanis Dominate Sexuality-Based Asylum Applications
Home Office figures show that in 2023 Pakistanis lodged 42 percent of all sexual orientation asylum claims. This is despite making up just 6 percent of total asylum applications. Nearly two-thirds of such claims won approval at the first stage. Immigration lawyer Ana Gonzalez reviewed the BBC footage. She called the actions outright fraud that hurts genuine LGBT claimants.
The Home Office confirms that making false claims counts as a criminal offence. It carries the risk of prison and deportation. Officials say they investigate abuse and keep tightening safeguards. Yet the latest revelations raise serious questions about how easily the system can be gamed.
