Hundreds of individuals have been expelled from the United Kingdom following raids conducted by the Home Office at various establishments including takeaways, fast food delivery services, beauty parlors, and car wash facilities.
According to the Home Office, there has been a 63% surge in arrests for illegal working, resulting in the removal of more than 1,050 migrants in the largest crackdown on record. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that this operation aims to deter individuals from entering the UK via small boats.
Mahmood emphasized that illegal employment serves as an enticement for those seeking to enter the country unlawfully and that individuals found working illegally in beauty salons, car washes, and as delivery drivers will be apprehended, detained, and deported.
She vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard the UK’s borders, highlighting that new laws now hold employers accountable for hiring illegal workers, subjecting them to up to five years of imprisonment.
Recent government data reveals that over 8,000 migrants were arrested as a result of 11,000 Immigration Enforcement raids conducted between October of the previous year and September 2025.
Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, commended the enforcement efforts but acknowledged the need for further action. He expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the raids, noting that they have led to arrests and the deportation of a significant number of individuals.
When questioned about the success rate given the disparity between arrests and deportations, Norris maintained that it was an outstanding achievement. He reiterated the government’s commitment to intensifying efforts, leveraging existing laws to their full extent, and enacting additional legislation to address the issue of illegal immigration.
Notably, the government has allocated £5 million to Operation Sterling, a campaign targeting unauthorized employment. Arrests have surged by 63% within a year, and inspection visits have increased by 51%.
To prevent individuals from circumventing regulations, right-to-work checks are being expanded to cover all types of workers, including those with casual, temporary, or subcontracted arrangements. The consultation seeks input from businesses on current recruitment practices and aims to provide guidance on implementing more robust right-to-work verification processes.
Delivery service providers such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have bolstered their efforts to combat illegal employment by enhancing real-identity verification and right-to-work checks on their platforms.