Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds

BBC Unveils Hidden Network of Legal Professionals Assisting Migrants in Fabricating Gay Identities for Asylum Claims

Undercover investigation reveals how migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh use fake stories to secure residency

Legal professionals have created a covert system to help migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh pretend to be gay, enabling them to claim asylum in the UK, according to a BBC investigation. This practice, uncovered in the first phase of a significant undercover probe, involves advising individuals whose visas are about to expire on crafting misleading narratives and acquiring fabricated documents such as letters, photos, and medical reports. These migrants then assert they face persecution if deported, relying on the asylum process to grant them refuge.

The Home Office responded to the findings by stating, “Anyone found attempting to misuse the system will be held accountable, with consequences including removal from the UK.” While the asylum process is designed to protect those at risk in their home countries, the BBC’s findings suggest it is being strategically exploited by advisers who charge high fees. Many of these individuals have expired student, work, or tourist visas, rather than arriving through illegal means like small boats.

Asylum claims in the UK reached 100,000 in 2025, with 35% of cases involving people who have overstayed their legal status. To gather evidence, the BBC sent reporters undercover to simulate the experience of such migrants. Posing as international students from South Wales, Birmingham, and Oxford, they attended a gathering at a community center in Beckton, east London, where over 175 people met under the banner of Worcester LGBT—a group claiming to support gay and lesbian asylum seekers.

Despite the group’s mission, attendees openly admitted to the undercover reporter that their identities were not genuine. “Most of the people here are not gay,” said Fahar, one of the participants. Zeeshan, another attendee, went further: “Nobody is gay here. Not even 1% are gay. Not even 0.01% are gay.”

The undercover reporter’s journey began in late February when they contacted Mazedul Hasan Shakil, a paralegal at Law & Justice Solicitors, which operates in Birmingham and London. Shakil, also founder of Worcester LGBT, used the group’s website to promote his services. During a brief call, he emphasized the need for persecution fears to qualify for asylum, yet the reporter soon received a call from Tanisa, who spoke in Urdu and advocated for claiming asylum based on being gay.

Tanisa, later identified as Tanisa Khan—a consultant for Worcester LGBT—met the reporter at her home in Forest Gate, east London. Sitting on a bed, she outlined the process: “The only viable path to a visa is through the asylum route… it’s based on human rights and called a gay case or same-sex claim.” She assured the reporter that while preparation was required, the final step—facing the Home Office—would be their responsibility. Over 45 minutes, she guided them through the creation of a fabricated story, highlighting the complexity of the scheme.

Behind the scenes, this network operates with precision, blending legal expertise with strategic deception to secure residency for those who might otherwise be deported. The BBC’s investigation sheds light on the growing role of such practices in shaping the UK’s asylum landscape.