A High Court judge has blocked a 44-year-old woman's attempt to adopt her 18-year-old Pakistani "first cousin once removed" who is living unlawfully in the UK.
Mr Justice Mostyn said the teenager was an "unlawful overstayer". He had travelled from Pakistan nearly three years ago for a six-week "family visit" and moved into the woman's home in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
The judge refused to make an adoption order.
He suggested that the only benefit the teenager would derive from being adopted was British citizenship.
Mr Justice Mostyn suggested that the teenager should make an application to the Home Office - and said officials would treat any request he made to remain in Britain carefully and justly.
The judge said officials had agreed to not to deport the teenager pending his decision on adoption.
Detail of the case has emerged in a written ruling by the judge following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in Leeds.
He did not identify the people involved.
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