ISLAMABAD: The Labour government in the United Kingdom has initiated a large-scale crackdown on illegal working, with a particular focus on Indian restaurants, nail bars, convenience stores, and car washes employing migrant workers. This operation dubbed a “UK-wide blitz,” is aimed at curbing illegal immigration and follows a strategy reminiscent of tough US immigration policies.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is personally overseeing the enforcement operations, which have seen a significant surge in activity. In January, authorities conducted raids on 828 premises, marking a 48% increase from the previous year, and arrested 609 individuals—a 73% rise in arrests compared to 2023. The crackdown is widespread but has notably targeted the food service sector, including restaurants, takeaways, cafes, and the food and drink industries.
A raid on an Indian restaurant in Humberside resulted in seven arrests and four detentions. Cooper underscored the importance of upholding immigration laws, noting that employers have long been exploiting illegal migrants without facing consequences. She warned that such practices contribute to dangerous migration routes, including small boat crossings in the English Channel, while also exploiting vulnerable workers and undermining the economy.
With growing support for Reform UK in the polls, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to demonstrate a strong stance on illegal immigration. In response, the government has been deploying charter flights to deport “immigration offenders” to various countries, including some of the largest migrant deportation flights in UK history, removing over 800 individuals. In a bid to heighten the visibility of its immigration enforcement, the government has also released footage showing individuals being escorted onto planes by Border Force staff, including men shackled and removed under heavy security.
Alongside domestic measures, the Labour government has launched an international campaign aimed at deterring illegal migration. The Home Office has placed social media ads in countries such as Vietnam and Albania, featuring personal accounts from migrants who entered the UK illegally and faced exploitation, debt, and hardship.
According to Home Office data, illegal working crackdowns and arrests have increased by approximately 38% from July 2023 to January 2024, compared to the same period the previous year. Authorities have issued over 1,000 civil penalty notices to employers, with fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement at the Home Office, emphasized that the government’s focus is not only on enforcement but also on protecting workers from exploitation in poor conditions.
The Labour government’s actions come as the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill prepares for its second reading in Parliament. The bill seeks to dismantle criminal migration gangs and enhance border security, granting law enforcement powers to seize mobile phones from individuals entering the UK illegally.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has criticized the bill as insufficient, claiming it does not go far enough to deter illegal migration. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp argued that the party, under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, is working on more effective reforms to reduce immigration, adding that the UK should be “our home, not a hotel,” signaling a push for stricter controls on permanent residency.
