UK immigration enforcement teams made 609 arrests in January, marking a 73% increase from the same period in 2024, AFP reported.
This effort is part of the Labour government’s plan to address undocumented migration and combat people-smuggling rings. The arrests were conducted at over 800 locations, including restaurants, nail salons, car washes, and convenience stores.
This surge comes after Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed his predecessor Rishi Sunak’s controversial plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, opting instead to dismantle criminal gangs involved in illegal migration.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised that employers have long been able to exploit illegal migrants without facing consequences.
She stated that the Labour government is increasing enforcement and enacting new legislation to target criminal organisations responsible for smuggling migrants into the UK.
Migration through unsafe boat crossings in the English Channel was a significant issue during the general election last July, which led to Labour’s victory.
Since then, nearly 19,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals, and other immigration offenders have been expelled, marking the highest return rate since 2018.
The government is also facing rising public concern over legal and illegal migration, which contributed to the growth of the far-right Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.
In response, Starmer has ramped up enforcement measures, set up a Border Security Command, and strengthened collaboration with European authorities, including Europol.
The UK has also signed new agreements with countries such as Germany and Iraq to fight smuggling rings, building on deals made under the previous Conservative administration.
Additionally, the government’s new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, aimed at providing law enforcement with enhanced powers, is due for a second reading in Parliament.
This bill is designed to disrupt the activities of gangs responsible for bringing irregular migrants across the Channel.
