The UK government has intensified efforts to combat illegal working, arresting hundreds of migrants in January alone. Enforcement actions targeting nail bars, car washes, and restaurants saw a 73% increase in arrests compared to the previous year. Officials link the rise in arrests to false promises about living and working in the UK, encouraging migrants to risk perilous journeys across the Channel. This crackdown coincides with a debate on the government's immigration bill, which faces criticism for its perceived weakness in addressing illegal crossings.
Hundreds of migrants have been arrested in the UK this year as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal working. Government enforcement teams conducted raids on 828 premises, including nail bars, car washes, and restaurants, resulting in 609 arrests. This represents a 73% increase from January 2024 and the highest January figure on record.
Officials attribute the surge in migrant arrests to false promises regarding living and working in the UK, leading many to risk their lives by crossing the Channel. This crackdown coincides with the government's immigration bill being debated by MPs. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the bill as 'weak' and incapable of stopping illegal crossings. A significant number of January's raids targeted restaurants, takeaways, and cafes, with examples including vape shops in Cheshire and a grocery warehouse in south London. Those arrested entered the UK through various means, including crossing the Channel and overstaying legitimate visas. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the government's commitment to increasing enforcement to 'record levels' and upholding immigration rules. She stated that employers had exploited illegal migrants for too long, leading to a dangerous pull for people to risk perilous Channel crossings and a system rife with abuse. Cooper pointed out the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, the immigration system, and the economy as consequences of this unchecked activity. From July, when the Labour government took office, to January 31st, immigration enforcement officers made 3,930 arrests during 5,424 visits. A total of 1,090 civil penalty notices were issued, imposing fines of up to £60,000 per worker on employers found liable. During this period, the Home Office reported four of the 'biggest return flights in the UK's history,' expelling over 800 individuals. However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage deemed the released figures 'feeble' compared to the influx of migrants. Over 31 days in January, 1,098 people arrived in the UK illegally via small boats. The government launched social media campaigns in Vietnam and Albania in December and January to discourage people from embarking on the perilous journey to the UK. These campaigns highlight stories of migrants who entered illegally, only to face debt, exploitation, and a stark reality far removed from their initial expectations, according to the Home Office. This crackdown coincides with the government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill undergoing its second reading in the House of Commons. The bill proposes to grant counter-terrorism style powers to combat people smugglers facilitating migrant crossings. However, Labour ministers have not specified a target date for a decrease in small boat crossings. The Conservative Party has also attempted to amend the immigration bill, proposing to double the time required for migrants to gain indefinite leave to remain and, afterwards, require them to wait five years instead of one before applying for citizenship. Philp further argued that 'an effective removals deterrent' is essential to curb small boat crossings, criticizing Labour for scrapping the previous government's plan to relocate illegal migrants to Rwanda
Immigration Illegal Working Migrant Arrests UK Government Border Security Immigration Bill Channel Crossings Counter-Terrorism
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