Hundreds of individuals have been expelled from the UK following Home Office operations targeting eateries, fast food delivery drivers, beauty parlors, and car washes. According to the Home Office, the number of arrests for illegal employment has surged by 63%, resulting in the removal of over 1,050 migrants in the largest crackdown on record. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed that this crackdown aims to deter individuals from attempting to enter the UK via small boats.
Mahmood emphasized, “Illegal employment serves as an incentive for those seeking to illegally enter the country. This practice will no longer be tolerated.” Those discovered working illegally in beauty salons, car washes, or as delivery drivers will face arrest, detention, and deportation.
Stricter laws now hold employers accountable for hiring illegal workers, with potential penalties of up to five years in prison. Recent government data reveals that Immigration Enforcement conducted 11,000 raids resulting in the arrest of over 8,000 migrants from October of the previous year to September 2025.
Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, commended the enforcement efforts but acknowledged the need for further action. In an interview on Times Radio, Norris highlighted the success of the raids, stating that a thousand deportations have occurred as a result.
Addressing concerns about the ratio of arrests to deportations, Norris defended the outcomes as “excellent,” stressing the government’s commitment to utilizing the law to its fullest extent. He underscored the ongoing legislative efforts to combat illegal immigration and prevent individuals from exploiting the informal economy in the UK.
The government’s allocation of £5 million to Operation Sterling, aimed at combating unauthorized employment, has led to a 63% increase in arrests and a 51% rise in inspections. Enhanced right-to-work checks are being implemented to prevent individuals from circumventing regulations. Businesses failing to conduct these checks may face imprisonment, hefty fines, and business closure.
Proposed changes seek to mandate right-to-work verification for casual, temporary, and subcontracted workers, closing existing loopholes. A consultation process will engage businesses to review current recruitment practices and provide guidance on implementing more stringent right-to-work procedures.
Major delivery firms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have intensified identity verification and right-to-work checks to address concerns about illicit employment facilitated through their platforms.