70% of Ceuta Asylum Claims Now Cite Homosexual Persecution Seventy percent of asylum requests from migrants in Spain's Ceuta exclave now claim persecution based on homosexual orientation, raising fraud concerns among police. Seventy percent of asylum requests filed by migrants who entered the Spanish exclave of Ceuta are now alleging persecution based on their recently discovered homosexual orientation, according to a new report. The shift in claims has raised concerns among Spanish authorities about possible coordinated fraud in the asylum system. Shift from Economic to Sexual Orientation ClaimsDuring the first month of the migration surge, applicants reportedly cited economic reasons, such as lacking a job or seeking a better life in Spain. In recent weeks, however, the stated motives have shifted dramatically toward claims of persecution in Morocco based on sexual orientation.According to the newspaper ABC, 95 percent of the total asylum applications filed by these migrants come from Moroccan nationals, with all other nationalities collectively representing the remaining five percent.The sudden surge in such claims has led authorities to suspect that migrants are receiving advice from third-party entities on how to achieve their goal of staying in Spain. The Spanish National Police reportedly suspects that unspecified non-governmental organizations may be behind this guidance.Asylum Claims and Rejection RatesAs of mid-October, at least 19 known asylum claims have been granted to migrants who entered Ceuta. Five of these were confirmed by police to have been based on alleged sexual orientation persecution claims.In total, asylum applications presented by these migrants reportedly have a 99 percent rejection rate, according to information disclosed to ABC. A minor, 0.1 percent of all Moroccan asylum seekers have further taken their case before the National Court.A denied asylum application does not translate into immediate deportation from Ceuta or Spain. The individual must be officially notified by authorities, a procedural step that, according to the newspaper, has led to migrants abandoning the refugee center they were housed in and hiding in mountains, neighborhoods, or even homes, making it harder for police to determine their whereabouts.Per police sources, it is believed the alleged asylum seekers circulate among themselves any information and motives that they believe will have the better chances towards a successful asylum application.Police Union Concerns and Verification ProcessAsked for comment, a spokesperson from Spain's Unified Police Union (SUP) told ABC that the organization is concerned over the sudden shift in asylum applications and is aware that such tactics are being circulated. While this cannot in itself prove generalized fraud, SUP noted that all corresponding verifications must be reinforced, emphasizing asylum is a benefit that must only protect those who actually suffer persecution and not become a pathway to bypass migration laws through false statements.Additionally, the police union called for more resources and specialists to expedite the processing of asylum applications, stressing that there is no point in denying a request if the person then disappears and the police cannot locate them.ABC pointed out that while sexual relations between individuals of the same sex are punished by the Moroccan Penal Code with prison time and this may lead to plausible grounds to seek asylum protection in Spain, it is not enough to just say you are homosexual to be granted asylum. It is not essential to have already been the victim of an assault or an arrest, but there must be a sufficiently substantiated risk, ABC stressed.Such cases are assessed by Spanish authorities who determine whether there is in fact a well-founded fear of persecution based on sexual orientation if a so-called asylum seeker applicant were to return to Morocco. Verification involves a series of interviews overseen by police officers and extensive questionnaires that can run as long as 15 pages.The Office of Asylum and Refuge reviews each case. Specialists assess the consistency of the account, personal circumstances, possible threats or acts of violence, any documentation provided, and information about the situation in the country of origin. They may also request clarification when there are significant contradictions, the newspaper explained.Recurring Practice Across EuropeNumerous instances of large numbers of migrants suddenly presenting asylum requests on alleged sexual orientation persecution are not a new phenomenon, but rather a frequently recurring practice across several European nations. In the United Kingdom, hundreds of migrants from Pakistan have made similar allegations to request asylum under the purported claim that they had to flee from their homeland because they are gay.