The UK government has unveiled new measures aimed at enhancing border security, focusing largely on employers hiring illegal workers and disrupting organised immigration crime.
Illegal Working Under the Spotlight
In a statement published on 21 August 2024, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the immediate recruitment of up to 100 specialist intelligence and investigation officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA), who will target networks involved in illegal immigration, particularly those responsible for dangerous boat crossings.
A significant increase in immigration enforcement and returns activities has also been announced. The government aims to achieve the highest rate of removals of individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK, including failed asylum seekers, within the next six months – the highest rate of removals since 2018.
To support these efforts, a new intelligence-driven programme will be launched to identify and prosecute employers who hire individuals without the Right to Work in the UK. Sanctions such as civil penalty fines, business closure orders and potential prosecutions can be imposed on employers who engage in illegal hiring practices.
The Home Office confirmed in an announcement on 27 August that in the week from 18 – 24 August, immigration enforcement teams targeted more than 275 premises, with a particular focus on car washes. A total of 135 businesses received notices for employing illegal workers, and officers detained 85 illegal workers.
In addition to these measures, the government is increasing the number of detention spaces to support the higher rate of removals. The reopening and expansion of Immigration Removal Centres at Campsfield and Haslar are expected to provide the necessary capacity to enforce immigration rules more effectively. The Home Office also says it has completed nine successful returns flights in the past six weeks, including the largest-ever chartered return flight. Personnel and resources are being redeployed to accelerate the removal of failed asylum seekers, with 300 caseworkers already reassigned to handle thousands of cases.
Enhanced digital capabilities will also be employed to maintain consistent contact with individuals subject to removal, preventing them from evading authorities and engaging in illegal work.
This surge in enforcement, overseen by Bas Javid, Director General for Immigration Enforcement at the Home Office, is part of the government’s broader plan to reform the asylum system and strengthen border security.
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
