Hundreds of migrants kicked out of UK after biggest illegal work crackdown on record

The Home Office said illegal working arrests have shot up by 63% year-on-year with over 1,050 migrants removed as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed to get tough

Hundreds of people have been kicked out of the UK after Home Office raids on takeaways, fast food drivers, beauty salons and car washes.

The Home Office says illegal working arrests skyrocketed by 63%, with over 1,050 migrants removed as part of the largest crackdown on records. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said this will put people off coming to the UK by small boat.

Ms Mahmood said: “Illegal working creates an incentive for people attempting to arrive in this country illegally. No more.

“Those found to be illegally working in beauty salons, car washes and as delivery drivers will be arrested, detained and removed from this country.

“I will do whatever it takes to secure Britain’s borders.” New laws mean bosses who hire illegal workers could face up to five years behind bars.

New figures published by the Government show more than 8,000 migrants have been arrested after 11,000 raids by Immigration Enforcement from October last year to September 2025.

It comes after ministers committed £5million to Operation Sterling targeting unauthorised working. Arrests rose by 63% in a year and visits were up by 51%.

Right to work checks are being expanded to stop people slipping through the cracks. Bosses who fail to conduct these checks could be jailed, face fines of £60,000 per illegal worker and have their businesses closed.

Under existing laws, right-to-work checks to verify someone is eligible to work in the UK are needed only for companies with traditional employer to employee contracts.

But ministers want to close a “loophole” for casual, temporary or subcontracted workers to also have to prove their status.

The consultation will seek views from businesses on current recruitment procedures and aim to give them guidance for rolling out stronger right-to-work checks.

It also comes as delivery firms Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have ramped up real-identity and right-to-work checks to tackle concerns of illegal working through their platforms.