News
September 26, 2025
Brazen illegal lorry migrant who claimed to be child faces being deported after officials saw his real age on Instagram
AN ILLEGAL migrant who claimed to be 15 was found to be eight years older after officials spotted his date of birth on Instagram. The Sudanese asylum seeker, who arrived in the UK in the back of a lorry, used it to sign up for the messaging service, a tribunal was told. The migrant, referred...
A Sudanese asylum seeker who attempted to deceive authorities about his age is now facing deportation after officials discovered his real age through his Instagram account. The man, who entered the UK illegally concealed in a lorry, initially claimed to be 15 years old upon arrival. This claim, if accepted, would have entitled him to different legal protections and support services afforded to unaccompanied minors seeking asylum.
However, his deception unraveled when immigration officials, during their investigation, stumbled upon his Instagram profile. It was during a routine check of his online presence that his actual date of birth was discovered, clearly indicating that he was significantly older than he claimed.
The revelation came during a tribunal hearing where the man's asylum claim was being considered. The details of his Instagram account, including his date of birth, were presented as evidence, confirming he was in fact 23 years old. The use of Instagram to sign up for messaging services proved to be his undoing, leaving a digital trail that exposed his misrepresentation.
The case highlights the increasing use of social media as a tool for immigration officials to verify information provided by asylum seekers. While authorities routinely conduct checks to ensure the integrity of the asylum process, this particular instance underscores the potential for seemingly innocuous online activity to have significant legal consequences.
The tribunal is now considering the implications of this discovery, with deportation appearing to be the most likely outcome. Had the man’s initial claim of being a minor been accepted, he would have been placed in the care of social services and potentially granted leave to remain in the UK. However, his attempt to mislead authorities has jeopardized his chances of remaining in the country. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and transparency when navigating the complexities of the asylum system.
However, his deception unraveled when immigration officials, during their investigation, stumbled upon his Instagram profile. It was during a routine check of his online presence that his actual date of birth was discovered, clearly indicating that he was significantly older than he claimed.
The revelation came during a tribunal hearing where the man's asylum claim was being considered. The details of his Instagram account, including his date of birth, were presented as evidence, confirming he was in fact 23 years old. The use of Instagram to sign up for messaging services proved to be his undoing, leaving a digital trail that exposed his misrepresentation.
The case highlights the increasing use of social media as a tool for immigration officials to verify information provided by asylum seekers. While authorities routinely conduct checks to ensure the integrity of the asylum process, this particular instance underscores the potential for seemingly innocuous online activity to have significant legal consequences.
The tribunal is now considering the implications of this discovery, with deportation appearing to be the most likely outcome. Had the man’s initial claim of being a minor been accepted, he would have been placed in the care of social services and potentially granted leave to remain in the UK. However, his attempt to mislead authorities has jeopardized his chances of remaining in the country. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and transparency when navigating the complexities of the asylum system.
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Politics