Mahmood promises action against 'sham lawyers' abusing asylum system

The BBC investigation revealed how migrants, often those whose student, work, or tourist visas are expiring, are provided with fake cover stories and instructed on how to obtain fabricated evidence, including supporting letters, photographs, and medical reports. They then apply for asylum, claiming to be gay and in fear for their lives if returned to countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh, where gay sex is illegal. This group now accounts for 35% of all asylum claims, which exceeded 100,000 in 2025.

Home Secretary Mahmood stated that anyone abusing protections for people fleeing persecution over gender or sexual orientation is "beyond contempt." She warned that attempts to defraud the British people to enter or remain in the UK will result in asylum claim refusal, support cuts, and deportation. Political figures from various parties, including the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK, have called for urgent investigations and reforms to the asylum system, with some advocating for prosecution of legal advisers involved in fraud. A charity founder, granted asylum in the UK for being a lesbian, expressed dismay, noting such exploitation undermines the genuine struggles of LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers.