Latest news with #ImmigrationEnforcement
Metro
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Metro
Footage shows immigration raids on nail bars, construction sites and restaurants
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Thousands of arrests have been made over the past year as part of Labour's crackdown on illegal working, the government has said. Immigration enforcement teams have raided 9,000 properties across the UK, including restaurants, nail bars and construction sites, and made 6,410 arrests since the election. The Home Office said the activity forms part of its fight against organised crime and efforts to stamp out the jobs used to entice migrant workers and asylum seekers onto small boats. Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said: 'For too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit migrants, with people allowed to arrive and work here illegally. 'This will no longer be tolerated on our watch. That's why we are ramping up our enforcement activity and introducing tougher laws to finally get a grip of our immigration and asylum system. 'Under our Plan for Change, we will continue to root out unscrupulous employers and disrupt illegal workers who undermine our border security.' Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sign up here. Footage has been released of the raids, which included 36 arrests a construction site in Belfast's historic Titanic Quarter. Elsewhere, nine arrests were made at a caravan park in Surrey last month following intelligence individuals were working illegally as delivery drivers in the gig economy. Nine people were also arrested in Bradford in March as officers intercepted a popular illegal working pick up point in Naples Street. Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement, compliance and crime at Immigration Enforcement, said:'Our work to tackle illegal working is vital in not only bringing the guilty to account, but also in protecting vulnerable people from exploitation. 'I'm incredibly proud of our enforcement teams across the country for their hard work, skill and co-operation on these often challenging but highly important operations.' More than 1,100 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel last Saturday, the highest number recorded on a single day so far this year. The latest Home Office figures show that 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats, bringing the provisional annual total so far to 14,811. This is 42% higher than the same point last year (10,448) and 95% up from the same point in 2023 (7,610), analysis of the data shows. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3, 2022. This year is on course to set a record, with the 14,811 total arrivals so far the highest recorded for the first five months of a year. More Trending The Home Office said ramping up illegal working enforcement activity forms a key part of its drive to restore order to the immigration system. A spokesperson said: 'In many cases, individuals travelling to the UK illegally are sold a lie by smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in the UK, when in reality they often end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours, with the threat of arrest and removal if they are caught working illegally. 'In the latest move to restore order to the asylum and immigration system, the Government is also introducing tough new laws to clamp down on illegal working by extending Right to Work checks on those hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery, beauty salons and courier services.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Why I'm scared by a report about Britain's 'minority white' future MORE: Universal digital 'BritCards' on an app could soon be used to prove who you are MORE: Full list of 12 countries on Donald Trump's travel ban
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Six arrested on suspicion of smuggling hundreds of migrants into UK to work in care homes
Six people suspected of illegally smuggling hundreds of migrants into the UK to work in care homes have been arrested. An alleged organised crime boss was among those apprehended in a series of dawn raids on Tuesday morning. The group is accused of unlawfully bringing 200 Botswana nationals into Britain over a two-year period, leading them into a life of fraud and exploitation. They are believed to have assisted the migrants with illegal employment in care homes, despite them having no adequate training or medical expertise, the Home Office said. Five men and one woman were arrested in raids in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford. The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was arrested in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of migrants into the UK. They are accused of assisting migrants in submitting false asylum claims using fake documents and helping them gain employment illegally. Officers acted on intelligence that suggested the lead people-smuggler was exploiting Botswanan nationals he lured to Britain under false pretences allegedly forcing them to do unpaid work. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: 'I want to commend the dedication and professionalism of our criminal investigators and Immigration Enforcement officers for these significant arrests. Their tireless efforts have disrupted criminal networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining our immigration system. 'This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation. 'Our enforcement teams work day and night to protect our borders and communities from harm, and this successful operation is testament to their commitment. 'The Government remains resolute in our approach to tackle illegal migration and the criminal enterprises that enable it, and through our Plan for Change will continue to restore order to the asylum system that collapsed in recent years." Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, Phillip Parr, added: 'This is one of our highest priority investigations due to the scale of the threat, the number of people believed to be involved, the immense harm these victims are potentially at risk of, and the amount of financial gain the suspects stand to make.' One man from Botswana aged 37, two Zimbabwean men aged 39 and 50, two British men aged 36 and 46, and a British woman aged 33 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to do an act to help an asylum seeker enter the UK and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Suspected gang who 'helped hundreds of migrants enter UK illegally' arrested in raids across England
A suspected criminal gang accused of helping more than 200 migrants from Botswana enter the UK illegally over a two-year period has been targeted in a series of raids. Six people were arrested across England on Tuesday morning, with the lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, detained in Cheltenham. Four other men and one woman, aged between 33 and 50, were also arrested in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford. The suspected gang is alleged to have helped migrants use fake documents to submit asylum claims and gain employment in care homes without adequate training. The Home Office said intelligence suggested the suspected lead smuggler lured people here under false pretences and forced them to do unpaid work. The "scale of the threat" meant this was one of the government's highest priority investigations, according to Phillip Parr, an inspector with the Immigration Enforcement's criminal and financial investigation unit. Mr Parr said there was "no place for those who profit from human misery" and the operation safeguarded potentially hundreds of people from further exploitation. The raids are part of the government's latest efforts to tackle people smuggling gangs and stop small boat crossings. The Home Office said almost 30,000 people have been returned since the election last July - 12% more than the same period last year. However, so far this year a record 13,617 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, compared with 10,775 for the same period last year, and more than previous comparable years. On Saturday, 1,195 people made the crossing, the highest figure so far for 2025. 2:36 Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips this weekend, Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain had "lost control of its borders over the last five years". The government said it was tightening UK visa controls and reducing reliance on overseas workers. Home Office minister Dan Jarvis said Tuesday's raids demonstrate the UK "will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation".
Edinburgh Live
24-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
East Lothian Chinese takeaway raided by Home Office as workers 'taken away in van'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Workers at a Chinese takeaway in East Lothian were 'taken away in a van' after the Home Office executed a raid at the restaurant. Three Chinese nationals were arrested following a visit from Immigration Enforcement officers at the Tiger In in Cockenzie on Friday, May 23. Two of the men were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry to the country while a third was arrested on suspicion of overstaying his visa. It is understood that all three of the men have since been bailed. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. A Home Office spokesperson said: "Illegal working will not be tolerated under this government. That's why we are clamping down on those who abuse our system and going after organised criminals who sell false promises to migrants about their ability to live and work in the UK. "This visit is just one example of how we're holding rogue employers who undercut honest businesses accountable as part of the government's Plan for Change to restore fairness and integrity to our immigration system. "The days of employers thinking they can hide from law enforcement and operate illegally under the radar are gone." The Tiger In has since been issued a Civil Penalty Referral Notice, if they're found to be liable, they could also face a fine.
Glasgow Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Asylum applications hit new high while backlog falls
A total of 109,343 people applied for asylum in the year to March 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001. The number is up 17% from 93,150 in the year ending March 2024, according to figures published by the Home Office. The previous record was 108,138 in the 12 months to December 2024. Migrants who arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats accounted for 33% of the total number of people claiming asylum in the year to March. Pakistani was the most common nationality among asylum applicants in 2024/25, accounting for 11,048 people or 10.1% of the total. This is up from 7,003 in 2023/24, when it was the third most common nationality (7.5% of the total). Afghan was the second most common nationality among people claiming asylum in the year to March (8,069 people, 7.4% of the total), down from 9,738 (10.5%) in 2023/24 when it was the most common nationality. Along with Pakistan, the largest increase in asylum claims in 2024/25 came from Syrian nationals, which stood at 6,175 (5.6% of the total), up from 4,232 (4.5%) in 2023/24. The figures also show there were 109,536 people waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of March 2025. This is down 12% from 124,802 at the end of December 2024 and is the lowest number since December 2021. The total peaked at 175,457 at the end of June 2023, which was the highest figure since current records began in 2010. The number of people waiting more than six months for an initial decision stood at 67,373 at the end of March, down from 73,866 at the end of December and well below the recent peak of 139,961 in June 2023. Separate figures published by the Home Office on Thursday show the number of quarterly enforced returns of people who do not have a right to stay in the UK fell slightly from 2,365 in October-December 2024 to 2,312 in January-March 2025. Both of these figures are higher than for any other quarter since 2018. The Home Office is responsible for returning people to their country of origin if they do not have a legal right to remain in the UK. There are three types of returns: enforced returns, which are carried out directly by the Home Office; voluntary returns, who are people who were facing deportation but left of their own accord, sometimes with support from the Home Office; and port returns, who are people refused entry to the UK and who have subsequently departed. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'We have substantially increased immigration enforcement, taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK. 'The work of Immigration Enforcement teams to substantially increase illegal working raids, returns and deportations is an important part of strengthening our border security. 'As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will strengthen the rules so that more foreign national offenders can be returned.' There were 482 enforced and voluntary returns in the three months to March of migrants who arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats. This is down from 558 in the previous quarter. Some 2,240 migrants who arrived in small boats were returned during the year to March, down from 2,316 in the previous 12 months. Of the 2,240 returns in 2024/25, 80% were Albanian nationals, a similar proportion to 2023/24 (88%). There were 5,154 returns of foreign national offenders in the year to March, the highest for any 12-month period since the year ending June 2019.
