The United Kingdom's Labour government has launched a large-scale crackdown on illegal working, with a significant focus on Indian restaurants, nail bars, convenience stores, and car washes employing migrant workers.
The initiative, described as a "UK-wide blitz," follows a similar approach to US President Donald Trump's tough immigration policies. British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been personally overseeing the operations, with the Home Office reporting a record-breaking January. Authorities raided 828 premises, marking a 48 percent increase from the previous January, and arrested 609 individuals, reflecting a 73 percent surge compared to the previous year.
Officials stated that while the crackdown covers all sectors, a large portion of enforcement activity has targeted restaurants, takeaways, and cafes, as well as the food, drink, and tobacco industry.
A single raid on an Indian restaurant in Humberside, northern England, resulted in seven arrests and four detentions. Cooper emphasized that the immigration rules must be upheld, stating that employers have long been able to exploit illegal migrants without consequences.
She warned that such practices not only encourage dangerous migration routes, such as small boat crossings in the Channel, but also result in the abuse of vulnerable individuals and the economy.
With the rapid rise of Reform UK in the polls, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure to demonstrate a firm stance on illegal immigration. His government is deploying charter flights to remove "immigration offenders" to various countries.
Among these, four of the largest migrant deportation flights in UK history have collectively removed over 800 people. In a shift toward a more visual strategy, the government has released footage showing deportations, including individuals being escorted onto aircraft by Border Force staff. The footage has depicted men with their hands shackled, being removed under heavy security.
The Labour government has also launched an international campaign aimed at discouraging illegal migration.
Home Office stated that social media advertisements went live in Vietnam in December and in Albania in January, featuring real stories from migrants who entered the UK illegally only to face debt, exploitation, and hardships vastly different from what they had been promised.
Home Office data indicates that from July 5 last year to January 31 this year, illegal working crackdowns and arrests increased by approximately 38 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
Authorities have issued 1,090 civil penalty notices, with employers facing fines of up to 60,000 pounds per worker if found liable. Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance, and Crime at the Home Office, stated that these figures demonstrate the government's commitment to enforcing immigration laws.
He added that many individuals working illegally are often subjected to poor conditions, and authorities are working to protect them from exploitation.
The Labour government’s actions coincide with the introduction of the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which is set to return to Parliament for its second reading.
The legislation is aimed at dismantling criminal gangs involved in illegal migration and strengthening border security measures.
The bill proposes granting law enforcement additional powers, including the ability to seize mobile phones from individuals who enter the UK illegally before they are formally arrested.
The Conservative Party has criticized the bill as ineffective, arguing that it does not go far enough to deter illegal migration. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp stated that the party, under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, is working on more effective and practical reforms to reduce immigration.
He added that the UK is "our home, not a hotel," signaling a push for stricter policies regarding access to permanent residency for migrants.
