UK's Crackdown on Illegal Workers: Nearly 4,000 Arrested in Nail Bars, Car Washes, and Restaurants

Immigration enforcement officers have arrested 3,930 suspected illegal workers between 5th July 2024—the day Sir Keir Starmer took office—and 31st January 2025. Those detained had overstayed their visas after arriving in the UK through various means, including crossing the English Channel. The arrests are part of Labour's broader strategy to reduce migration rates.

Mass Arrests Reveal Sharp Increase

The latest figures mark a 38% increase in arrests compared to the previous year, with enforcement officers conducting 5,424 visits to workplaces across the country. In January 2025 alone, officers carried out 828 visits, leading to a record 609 arrests—the highest ever recorded for that month since data collection began in 2019. This represents a significant rise from January 2024, which saw 556 visits and 352 arrests.

As border security remains a hotly debated issue in Parliament, the government's heightened enforcement measures reflect its commitment to cracking down on illegal employment.

Exploiting the Vulnerable: The Harsh Reality of Illegal Work

Many of the arrested individuals were found working in restaurants, convenience stores, nail bars, and car washes, raising concerns over exploitative business practices. Illegal workers often face long hours, poor conditions, and below-minimum wages, while fearing deportation if they speak out.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the exploitation of undocumented workers, stating:

'For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit illegal migrants, and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken.'

Many of those caught in the system were reportedly lured by people smugglers, who sell the dream of a better life in the UK to desperate individuals in impoverished countries.

The False Promises of People Smugglers

Criminal networks play a key role in illegal immigration, organising dangerous, costly, and often deadly journeys by air and sea. One such operation was uncovered in 2023 when seven members of a British-Palestinian gang were jailed for a combined 26 years for smuggling at least 14 Middle Eastern nationals into the UK.

The gang arranged 26 flights into the country, with 14 asylum seekers successfully entering before three were arrested. Investigations revealed they had access to around 240 European identity cards and passports, predominantly French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and British documents.

Starmer's Crackdown: Treating People Smugglers Like Terrorists

In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to 'treat people smugglers like terrorists', vowing to dismantle smuggling networks that use the English Channel as a gateway to the UK.

People smugglers are known to pack migrants into inflatable dinghies, often providing nothing more than a life jacket for safety. These perilous crossings frequently result in fatalities, fuelling demands for stricter border control policies.

Starmer's approach has been backed by International Rescue Committee UK, with Director Denisa Delic stressing that, alongside prosecuting smugglers, the UK must establish safer legal migration routes.

'Without safe routes,' she warned, 'desperate people will continue risking their lives in dangerous crossings.'

However, the human rights group Liberty has slammed the PM's hardline stance, arguing that using counter-terrorism laws against people smugglers sets a dangerous precedent and raises concerns over wrongful prosecutions.

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

Despite these concerns, the UK government is pressing ahead with new legislation designed to combat human smuggling and illegal crossings. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, introduced by Yvette Cooper, includes:

• 'Counter-terror style' powers to identify and dismantle people-smuggling gangs.
• Strict penalties for those involved in selling or handling boat parts used for Channel crossings, with potential prison sentences of up to 14 years.
• Up to five years in prison for anyone endangering lives during dangerous crossings.
• Expanded powers for law enforcement to seize mobile phones from illegal entrants upon arrival.

The second reading of the bill is scheduled for today, as Parliament debates the future of UK border security.

The Cost of Immigration on British Taxpayers

The proposed law comes as a leading think tank warns that granting the right to stay to approximately 800,000 migrants could cost UK taxpayers £234 billion over several decades—an estimated £8,200 per household.

The actual figure could be even higher, as projections suggest that between 742,000 and 1.2 million applications for residency could be approved.

Labour's Tougher Stance on Migration

The latest crackdown on illegal workers is part of the Labour government's wider efforts to tighten border security and enforce immigration laws. By focusing on:

• Targeting unscrupulous employers who exploit undocumented workers.
• Dismantling human smuggling networks responsible for illegal crossings.
• Introducing tougher penalties to deter future illegal migration.

The government hopes to stabilise the economy, protect UK jobs, and strengthen national security—all while addressing public concerns over rising migration levels during an ongoing cost of living crisis.

Whether these policies will significantly curb illegal immigration remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Labour is under mounting pressure to deliver results.