Hundreds Detained in New Year Crackdown on Illegal Workers

Hundreds of migrants have been arrested since the beginning of the year as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal working, the government has announced.

In a major enforcement drive to kick off 2025, teams carried out raids at 828 locations, including nail salons, car washes, and restaurants, leading to 609 arrests—a 73% rise compared to January 2024, making it the highest January figure on record.

Officials say many migrants are lured in by false promises about life and work in the UK, which often leads them to risk their lives crossing the Channel in small boats.

The crackdown comes as MPs prepare to debate the government’s latest immigration bill on Monday. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has criticised the bill, calling it “weak” and insisting it “won’t stop the boats”.

A significant number of last month’s raids took place at restaurants, takeaways, and cafes, according to the Home Office. The department also cited arrests at vape shops in Cheshire and a grocery warehouse in South London.

Those detained had entered the UK through various means, including crossing the Channel in small boats and overstaying their visas.

Government Pledges Tougher Enforcement

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government is ramping up enforcement to record levels and stressed the importance of respecting immigration laws.

“For too long, employers have been able to exploit illegal workers, and too many people have arrived and worked illegally without consequences,” she said.

“This not only encourages dangerous Channel crossings, but also leads to the exploitation of vulnerable people, abuse of the immigration system, and unfair competition in our economy.”

Between July and 31 January, immigration enforcement teams made 3,930 arrests following 5,424 visits to suspected illegal workplaces.

Employers Facing Heavy Fines

During this period, the government issued 1,090 civil penalties, with businesses facing fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker if found guilty.

The Home Office also reported carrying out four of the largest deportation flights in UK history, removing more than 800 people from the country.

However, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage dismissed the government’s figures as “feeble”, arguing they pale in comparison to the number of new arrivals.

In January alone, 1,098 people arrived in the UK illegally on small boats, figures show.

Government Launches Social Media Campaign

To deter further illegal migration, the government launched a social media campaign in Vietnam in December and Albania in January, warning people about the dangers of making the journey.

The adverts highlight real-life stories of migrants who arrived in the UK illegally, only to face exploitation, debt, and a reality far from what they were promised, the Home Office said.

New Immigration Bill Sparks Debate

As the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill heads to its second reading in the House of Commons, ministers are proposing a set of new offences and counter-terrorism-style powers aimed at cracking down on people smugglers.

However, Labour ministers have yet to provide a clear target for reducing small boat crossings.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has put forward an amendment to toughen immigration rules, including doubling the time it takes for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain and extending the wait for citizenship applications from one year to five.

Chris Philp reiterated the need for a strong removals policy, claiming Labour had scrapped a key deterrent—the previous government’s plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda.