A nationwide crackdown on illegal working has led to a sharp rise in immigration arrests across the UK, according to new figures from the Home Office.
The government said enforcement activity against businesses employing migrants illegally has intensified, with raids increasing by 77% since Labour took office. Arrests linked to these operations have also surged by 83%. Targeted sectors include nail bars, car washes, barbershops, takeaways, construction sites and warehouses.
The renewed focus comes amid growing concern that illegal employment opportunities act as a pull factor for migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. More than 41,000 people made the journey in 2025, the highest number since 2022 and nearly 5,000 more than the previous year.
Between July 2024 and December 2025, immigration enforcement teams carried out over 17,400 business raids, resulting in more than 12,300 arrests. Of those detained, more than 1,700 have since been deported. While the number of arrests had been rising before Labour entered government, officials say enforcement has now reached record levels.
Opposition figures have criticised the government’s border policies. Conservative shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp claimed that illegal working was booming and warned that it continued to incentivise dangerous Channel crossings.
However, migration experts caution that raids alone are unlikely to significantly reduce small-boat arrivals. Dr Peter Walsh of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford noted that arrests historically exceed removals, though tougher workplace enforcement may deter employers from hiring people without the right to work.
Regionally, London recorded the highest number of arrests, with over 2,100 last year. Significant increases were also reported in the West Midlands, south-west England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government was determined to eliminate illegal working, backed by an additional £5m in funding and plans to introduce mandatory digital ID checks for the right to work by 2029.
For more details, visit New Daily Prime
