Authorities in the UK have arrested two people following a BBC undercover investigation that exposed how some immigration advisers allegedly coach asylum seekers to fake claims of being gay in order to remain in the country.
The arrests were made during coordinated raids in London, led by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team.
The operation comes weeks after BBC reporters revealed that migrants facing visa expiry were being guided on how to fabricate evidence from staged photographs to written testimonies to support false asylum applications.
During the investigation, an undercover journalist attended a gathering for LGBT asylum seekers.
There, several attendees reportedly admitted that many of those present were not genuinely gay, raising concerns about widespread abuse of the system.
Officials say a woman in her late 40s was arrested on suspicion of offering immigration services illegally, while a man in his early 20s is being investigated for fraud.
Immigration Minister Mike Tapp, who was present during one of the raids, said the government would not tolerate those exploiting the system.
“Our asylum system exists to protect people genuinely fleeing war and persecution,” he said.
“But anyone trying to game the system and those helping them do it will face the consequences.”
The arrests have sparked renewed political debate. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued that enforcement alone won’t solve the issue, calling for stricter policies to remove incentives for false claims.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat spokesperson Will Forster stressed the need for a system that is both fair and efficient, one that supports genuine applicants while shutting out abuse.
Others pointed to deeper structural problems. Green Party co-leader Zack Polanski suggested inconsistent government policies may be creating loopholes that opportunists exploit, while Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf criticised authorities for what he described as a delayed response.
The Home Office says investigations are ongoing, with more action likely as officials continue to examine the scale of the alleged fraud network.
