UK investigating reports migrants pretended to be gay, victims of abuse for asylum claims

The Home Office of the United Kingdom is investigating reports that some migrants are being advised to falsely claim to be gay or victims of domestic abuse in order to secure asylum in the country. 

The probe was sparked by reporting from the BBC, which found some individuals and organizations are coaching migrants to make false claims to avoid losing their legal status in the country.  

The BBC investigation found that some migrants whose visas are due to expire are given fake cover stories and taught how to fabricate evidence to bolster asylum claims. In some cases, law firms and advisers are charging thousands of pounds for advising the migrants. 

"Both the Home Office and Immigration Advice Authority are investigating the claims made by the BBC, both yesterday and today, to ensure anyone potentially abusing our immigration system is held accountable," a spokesman for the British Prime Minister told BBC. "Any attempt to misuse protections designed to protect genuine victims from the devastation of domestic abuse is shameful and completely unacceptable." 

According to British government data, immigrants from Pakistan file, by far, the most asylum claims which cite sexual orientation. Bangladesh, another Muslim-majority country, is second.