In recent Home Office operations targeting eateries, fast food delivery drivers, beauty parlors, and car washes, a significant number of individuals have been expelled from the UK. The Home Office has reported a notable 63% surge in illegal working arrests, resulting in the removal of over 1,050 migrants in the most extensive crackdown to date. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that these actions aim to discourage illegal entry into the UK, particularly via small boats.
Mahmood stated, “Illegal employment serves as an inducement for those seeking to unlawfully enter our country. This practice will no longer be tolerated.” She affirmed that individuals found working illegally in beauty salons, car washes, and as delivery drivers will face arrest, detention, and deportation.
Stricter laws have been enacted to penalize employers hiring unauthorized workers, potentially leading to up to five years of imprisonment. Government statistics reveal that over 8,000 migrants were apprehended following 11,000 Immigration Enforcement operations 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 necessity for further action. He expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the raids, emphasizing the deportation of a thousand individuals as a significant achievement.
Despite challenges regarding the ratio of arrests to deportations, Norris reiterated the success of the operations and outlined plans to intensify enforcement measures, including ongoing legislative initiatives. The government’s commitment to combat legal obstacles to deportation was underscored by Norris.
Operation Sterling, allocated £5 million to target unauthorized employment, witnessed a 63% increase in arrests and a 51% rise in site visits over the past year. Enhancements to right-to-work checks have been proposed to prevent individuals from circumventing regulations. Businesses failing to conduct these checks could face hefty fines, imprisonment, and business closure.
Ministers are aiming to eliminate discrepancies in right-to-work verification by extending checks to include casual, temporary, and subcontracted workers. A consultation process will engage businesses to streamline recruitment procedures and enhance compliance with right-to-work regulations.
Delivery service providers like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have bolstered identity verification and right-to-work checks on their platforms to combat concerns related to illegal employment.
