Mahmood promises action against ‘sham lawyers’ abusing asylum system

Home Secretary Vows Legal Action Against Fraudulent Asylum Claims

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has vowed to take legal action against “sham lawyers” who exploit the UK’s asylum system. This pledge follows a BBC investigation exposing how legal firms and advisers charge high fees to help migrants fabricate claims of being gay to remain in the country. The Home Office is now probing individuals highlighted in the BBC’s report, as officials noticed an increasing number of fabricated applications from people pretending to face persecution due to their sexual orientation.

BBC Investigation Unveils Exploitation of Asylum System

The BBC uncovered that migrants with expiring visas are being coached to create fake narratives and gather fabricated evidence, such as letters, photographs, and medical documents. These individuals then file asylum applications claiming to be gay and fearing for their safety if sent back to Pakistan or Bangladesh. The UK’s asylum process grants protection to those who cannot return to their home countries due to threats, like in nations where same-sex relationships are criminalized.

Political Responses to the Crisis

“Anyone abusing protections for people fleeing persecution over gender or sexual orientation is beyond contempt,” said Mahmood. “Attempting to defraud the British public to enter or stay in the UK will result in denied asylum, cut-off support, and a one-way exit from the country. Sham lawyers enabling this abuse will face the full legal consequences.”

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched urgent inquiries into all firms flagged in the BBC’s reporting. Jonathan Peddie, head of investigations, enforcement, and litigation at the SRA, stated: “We will act if evidence shows anyone we regulate has violated their duty to operate legally and maintain the integrity of the system.”

Labour MP Jo White urged the Home Office to halt study visas for people from Pakistan, echoing similar measures taken for others in 2025. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the findings, calling the scam “at the heart of many asylum claims” and demanding prosecutions for immigration fraud. Liberal Democrat spokesman Will Forster described the situation as “abhorrent,” emphasizing the need for a “fair, controlled, and efficient” asylum system and urging an urgent assessment of its scope.

Reform UK’s home affairs representative Zia Yusuf labeled the scandal “outrageous,” arguing the Conservatives built a flawed system with loopholes that have allowed mass entry. The Green Party’s Zack Polanski condemned the actions of law firms, noting the government’s “inconsistent policies” create “incentives for unscrupulous businesses to thrive.” These policies, he said, “disgracefully exploit a vulnerable system.”

Genuine Asylum Seekers Frustrated by Systemic Abuse

Aderonke Apata, founder of the African Rainbow Family charity, received asylum in the UK as a lesbian facing the death penalty in Nigeria. She expressed dismay at the BBC’s findings, stating: “This undermines the real challenges we endure as a community. It also makes it far harder for genuine asylum seekers and LGBTQ+ individuals to succeed in their claims.”