Latest news with #asylum
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How successful asylum claims for gay refugees have QUADRUPLED since pre-Covid
The number of asylum seekers successfully claiming to be gay to bag a one-way ticket to Britain has quadrupled since pre-Covid. Before the small boats crisis hit all-time highs, fewer than 500 arrivals were granted refugee status because of their sexual orientation each year. But figures exposing our 'push-over' system reveal this rose to 2,133 in 2023. From Bangladesh, where homosexual acts can be punished with life imprisonment, grants have risen 10-fold since 2015, MailOnline can reveal. Asylum claims are also being accepted from residents of nations where being gay is legal, such as Albania. The full findings of our investigation, part of our long-running series into 'soft-touch' Britain, can be viewed below. Home Office chiefs demand all asylum seekers trying to stay in Britain offer concrete proof to show they are at risk of persecution in their home country. Campaigners say they also must provide 'credible evidence' they are LGBT+, such as love letters and photos with partners. Yet critics claim that many – under the advise of legal firms funded by taxpayers – try to game the system by pretending to be gay. Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said: 'The Home Office has lost control of the asylum system and allowed it to be hijacked by lefty lawyers who are fully committed to undermining Britain's borders. 'These figures show many illegal migrants are claiming to be gay simply because it bolsters their chances of being given refugee status. 'Far too many grants of asylum are given to undeserving individuals who have lied their way through the process. 'The system is swamped, costing taxpayers an absolute fortune, and is not currently fit for purpose. The only way to restore order is to freeze asylum claims, end the corruption, and bring back a semblance of border control.' Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, said: 'The soaring figures are another clear sign that Britain is now a push-over when it comes to gaming the asylum system. 'If you want to migrate and hail from a country where you know the no British government will ever return you, all you need do is concoct an unverifiable back story, and you're home and dry.' Our analysis comes after a Pakistani asylum seeker last week begged Keir Starmer to let him stay in the UK because he is gay. Ali Raza Nasir insists he came to the UK to study but realised he would be 'safe' here when he visited Soho in London and met other gay people. Mr Nasir fears he will be deported to his home nation, where an arranged marriage with a woman awaits. Meanwhile, an Albanian asylum seeker who petitioned for the right to stay in the UK because he was 'gay' had his case denied earlier this month. An immigration judge found Esmir Demaj was now married to a woman. In one of the most brazen cases, as told by a Home Office source to the Mail, a man was granted asylum after he 'produced a photograph of himself with his arm around another man' as proof he was gay. It subsequently turned out that the person he had his arm around was his brother. Another notorious case from January made a mockery of the protections offered to gay people facing hardship. A convicted gay Zimbabwean paedophile was allowed to stay in Britain under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) because, it was argued, he would face 'substantial hostility' if he was sent home. On that occasion, there was no dispute that the man was attracted to males, even if they were children. The article is frequently used by asylum seekers to launch appeals on the basis that their personal circumstances would expose them to harm in their home countries. Home Office statistics, which began in 2015, do not show whether sexual orientation was the sole basis for the asylum claim. In 2023, the most recent year full data exists for, there were 578 asylum claims made on the basis of sexual orientation from Pakistan. Pakistan was followed by Bangladesh (175), Nigeria (103) and India (39). MailOnline's investigation into the issue found several legal firms advertising advice on how to jump through the Home Office's official hoops. They issue guidance on how asylum seekers can ace their personal testimony interview, which is described as 'the most compelling piece of evidence'. Tips included making sure their testimony was 'highly detailed and consistent', and it would be best if they built 'as strong a case as possible' to be successful in gaining refugee status. The coaching even includes how applicants should explain how their identity within the LGBT community was formed and differs from cultural norms in their home country. Also included are examples of the type of documents that the Home Office accepts as supporting evidence, which is described as helping 'strengthen asylum claims'. The topic of asylum seekers weaponising compassionate British law by pretending to be gay has been raised by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has taken the extraordinary step of issuing a warning to the Home Office. His human rights group, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, used to receive only a handful of small personal donations online each week. All of a sudden, however, this has soared to up to 30 a day, accompanied by a similar surge in the numbers signing up for a weekly newsletter. The donations all come from men from Pakistan, which is the nation with the largest number of claimants in the world. It appears, he told the Mail, some may have been collating documentary evidence of their contact with the group in a bid to back up their asylum claims. However, he said there was 'no proof of wrong-doing' and that 'asylum fraud is rare'. Mr Tatchell told MailOnline: 'Asylum applicants have to provide credible evidence they are LGBT+, such as love letters, photos with partners, evidence of active involvement with LGBT+ organisations and campaigns. 'They also need to provide detailed evidence of the homophobic persecution they suffered: newspaper reports about what happened to them, police reports of their arrest, court documents citing their charges and sentence, etc. 'It would be very difficult to fake or forge these requirements. Online guidance cannot produce medical reports that confirm a LGBT+ person has been tortured or a police report documenting their arrest.' Mr Tatchell believes part of the rise in LGBT+ asylum applicants is due to increased homophobic repression in many countries in 2022-23, such as the Taliban's control of Afghanistan and Putin's issuing of new harsh laws in Russia. In December, the Mail on Sunday revealed how a Jamaican man who raped a sleeping woman at a party had been allowed to stay after his lawyers argued he was bisexual and would be put at risk if deported. In that case, the Home Office said that, since his arrival here 23 years ago, there was zero evidence of bisexuality, only of relationships with women. Even so, the tribunal judge bizarrely accepted he was likely to have been bisexual and blocked his deportation – a decision later upheld when the Home Office appealed to the upper tribunal judges. And two years ago Saheed Azeez, from Nigeria, won asylum after claiming to be gay – despite having three children by three women. Mr Mehmet added: 'Why have those who have made their way to the UK illegally from the other side of the Channel not claimed asylum in France or elsewhere in the EU? 'And why do migrants who have been here for years only claim asylum at the point of having to leave? 'As Peter Tatchell, the gay rights campaigner, has implied, perhaps some asylum seekers and their legal representatives are only too ready to grab any loophole they find.' In September 2023, the then Tory home secretary Suella Braverman said that some asylum seekers 'purport to be homosexual in the effort to game our system, in the effort to get special treatment'. She added: 'That's not fair and it's not right.' It led to her being castigated by some gay groups for making what they described as 'deeply disturbing' comments which, they said, 'question the legitimacy of LGBTQI+ people claiming asylum in the UK'. Many Left-wing pressure groups and other woke advocates refuse to countenance the possibility that any claim based on homosexuality could be fictional and depict any attempt to address such abuse as being reactionary or even homophobic. A Home Office spokesperson said 'Every asylum claim is assessed on its individual merits, and decision-makers receive thorough training to ensure genuine cases are treated fairly. 'A strong system of safeguards and quality checks supports this process, helping to ensure all claims are properly reviewed and decisions are reliable. 'We take any abuse of the immigration system extremely seriously. Where there is evidence of wrongdoing, we will take firm action to challenge it and protect the integrity of our borders.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- General
- Telegraph
Illegal migrant cannot be deported because she stayed in Britain too long
An illegal migrant cannot be deported because she has stayed in Britain too long, an asylum court has ruled. Joyce Baidoo, 57, has been in the UK without permission since 2000, the court was told. The Home Office issued a deportation order in 2007 after she was convicted of fraud for using false identity documents and imprisoned for 10 months. But she has remained in the UK. Now, 25 years after her arrival, the Ghanaian has won a human rights case to stay in the UK. Ms Baidoo argued she had been in the UK for so long she would not be able to 'reintegrate' into Ghanaian culture. Ruling in her favour, a judge found she put forward a 'very compelling' argument when she said her 'long absence' would lead to 'significant obstacles' in her home country. Ms Baidoo won her case at the first-tier tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, then won again when the upper tribunal dismissed an appeal against the decision by the Home Office. The upper tribunal was told Ms Baidoo had sought leave to remain in the UK outside the Immigration Rules in September 2021 on the basis of her private life. 'She pleaded continuous long residence, and claimed that her departure would have a detrimental effect on her mental health,' the tribunal heard. 'She also said that there would be significant obstacles to her reintegration into Ghanaian culture because of her long absence, the lack of family support and the lack of employment opportunities she would have there. 'She claimed that she would be left destitute, resulting in unjustifiably harsh consequences for her.' Judge Jeffrey Cameron of the first-tier tribunal had ruled earlier this year: 'The evidence before me does indicate that Ms Baidoo on return to Ghana would not have any family support given that her husband has died, and she has no contact with her children. 'Given her age and [that she has] mental health problems it is unlikely that she would be able to within a reasonable period of time obtain employment and although she may be entitled to some support from the Government by voluntarily agreeing to removal, this would be short-term.' In its appeal, the Home Office argued that the tribunal 'failed to provide adequate reasons'. But Judge Richard Manuell at the upper tribunal concluded: 'It was not 'speculative' of the judge to conclude that Ms Baidoo would be destitute. 'He looked at various factors, including the absence of support and the period of absence, and reached conclusions that were properly reasoned and open to him. 'The judge gave cogent reasons for reaching his conclusions. Proportionality and reasonableness had been fully covered. The onwards appeal should be dismissed. There was no material error of law.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
It is time the left made a case for immigration – and how to control it
Public concern about migration is not an issue the Left can afford to ignore. On the doorstep and at the ballot box, people are making clear their dissatisfaction with the current immigration system. This is not a reason to change our values, but to speak clearly, credibly and honestly. The British public hasn't turned its back on friends, co-workers, and neighbours from overseas or on our proud tradition of offering sanctuary to people fleeing war and persecution. What they're rejecting is a system that often feels chaotic and unfair. Those seeking asylum can wait years in limbo while hotel costs spiral. Rogue employers can exploit migrant workers with impunity. And local services – schools, hospitals, housing – have been so underinvested in that communities can feel abandoned. The populist right has wasted no time in exploiting this frustration by spreading baseless myths that blame migrant workers and asylum seekers for everything from cuts to the winter fuel allowance and disability support to the cost of living crisis. These claims are dangerous and false. And if the left doesn't offer serious, workable solutions those lies will continue to fill the vacuum. That starts with honesty about trade-offs. We can't fix labour shortages unless employers invest in better training and create decent opportunities for Britain's existing workforce – alongside targeted overseas recruitment where needed. We won't stop dangerous small boat crossings without providing safe, legal alternatives for those seeking asylum and we won't win back public trust until we can show that the system is fair – for workers, communities, and migrants alike. To get there, we need a three-pronged approach. First, we need serious investment in UK skills and jobs. That means the government's forthcoming industrial strategy must set out a clear plan to train British workers and deliver high-quality work. It means delivering a Fair Pay Agreement in social care – quickly and in full – to raise pay and improve conditions in one of the most undervalued sectors of our economy. Tens of thousands of workers from overseas play an absolutely crucial role in delivering social care and will continue to do so into the future. But we cannot simply rely on migration to paper over the cracks in jobs that remain chronically underpaid and understaffed. Every care worker, whether from overseas or born and bred in the UK, deserves pay and conditions that reflect the essential, skilled work they do. Second, when people come to work in the UK we need to make sure they aren't exploited by rogue employers. That's why I welcome the government's intention to reform visas so migrant workers aren't vulnerable to pressure from their employers and unions look forward to working with the government to get these changes right. Ministers must also properly fund and empower the new Fair Work Agency. This body must have the teeth to hold exploitative employers to account – particularly those who undercut wages and erode national labour standards by mistreating migrant workers. The Employment Rights Bill represents an important step forward, offering vital new protections for all workers. The introduction of a right for unions to access workplaces, and a requirement for employers to inform staff of their right to join a union, will be crucial in tackling the exploitation migrant workers too often face. Unions will continue campaigning to ensure these provisions are meaningful and accessible to every worker. If we are to build public trust in our immigration system, we must demonstrate a clear commitment to protecting workers' rights and ensuring fair pay and conditions for all. Third, we need a functioning and humane asylum system. That means clearing the backlog, speeding up decisions, and allowing asylum seekers to work while they wait. Keeping people trapped in poverty helps no one. Letting people work would allow them to contribute, pay taxes, and start to rebuild their lives. It would reduce pressure on public services and allow us too to benefit from the skills that those fleeing persecution can bring. A fair system doesn't mean gimmicks or cruel policies like the failed Rwanda plan but serious solutions like trialling humanitarian visas which would allow people to apply for asylum legally from abroad. This would help stop dangerous Channel crossings, break the business model of the people smugglers, and bring some much-needed order and safety to the system. It also means increasing cooperation and bilateral deals with countries like France. That also involves making difficult decisions, like ensuring those whose asylum applications fail, return home with a humane approach and in line with our values and international obligations. Crucially, we must back local councils with the resources they need to support integration and community cohesion – not leave them to fend for themselves. As I said at the outset, the vast majority of the public is not anti-migrant. They are anti-chaos. People want to see competence, not culture wars. Fairness, not scapegoating. Solutions, not slogans. The left must reclaim this debate. Not by echoing the right, but by proving we can do things better. A credible and fair migration plan, and approach to asylum, means investing in UK skills, enforcing fair rules, and building a country where workers – wherever they're from – are treated with dignity. That's not a compromise of our values. That's what putting them into practice looks like.
LBCI
5 hours ago
- Business
- LBCI
Germany hopes for EU deal on sending failed asylum seekers to third countries, minister says
Germany's interior minister is hoping the European Union can reach a bloc-wide agreement on sending failed asylum seekers who cannot go home to safe countries near their original homelands. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives won February's national election on a promise to bring down immigration levels, which opinion polls showed many voters regarded as being out of control, although numbers have been falling for over a year. In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper published on Saturday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the approach of using third countries could work only if there was a Europe-wide consensus. Reuters
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New German interior minister defends harder line on migration policy
The tougher approach to migration policy taken by Germany's new coalition government is already showing results, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. "Asylum applications at the border are also low because word has quickly got around that entry into the Federal Republic of Germany is no longer guaranteed despite asylum applications," Dobrindt told Welt am Sonntag, in comments published on Saturday. Hours after taking office on May 6, Dobrindt imposed stricter border checks, instructing that all asylum seekers should be turned back. The measures do not apply to pregnant women, children or other vulnerable people. During the interview, Dobrindt also spoke of a "domino effect," noting that neighbouring countries have followed suit by increasing checks at their own borders. When asked about criticism from Poland and Switzerland, he reponded: "You should also mention those countries that support our new migration policy." The minister cited France, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Austria. "[These countries] have viewed our magnetic effect on refugees with concern, which was triggered by the [previous government's] migration policy. They all welcome the fact that Germany is becoming less attractive in terms of illegal migration." Poland's embassy in Berlin had previously raised concerns over the tighter border controls, warning such measures could disrupt cross-border traffic and the functioning of the EU's internal market. Switzerland also emphasized that Germany's incoming conservative-led government must keep its treatment of migrants and refugees in line with European law. Dobrindt added that Germany's policy shift also helps to ease pressure on transit countries. "There are no problems at the German borders," said Dobrindt. The aim was not to overburden Germany's neighbours, he said. "But our neighbours must also understand that Germany is no longer prepared to continue its migration policy of recent years." Meanwhile, Germany's GdP police union has warned that the stricter border controls can only be sustained for a limited period. The federal police, responsible for the country's borders, have managed the additional workload only by adjusting duty rosters, suspending training sessions, and deferring overtime leave, the chairman of the union has stated. Since mid-October 2023, German customs officers, who fall under the Finance Ministry, have been supporting police along the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland.
