For many migrants and diaspora communities across the UK, immigration enforcement is no longer something that feels distant or abstract. It is increasingly visible on high streets, in workplaces, and within everyday conversations. New figures show that illegal working arrests and raids have reached the highest level in British history, following what the Home Office describes as relentless enforcement activity across the country.
According to the latest data, the number of raids has surged by 77% since the current government came into power, with arrests rising by 83% between July 2024 and the end of December 2025. In that period alone, more than 17,400 enforcement visits were carried out nationwide, targeting businesses accused of employing people without the legal right to work. These included nail bars, car washes, barbers, warehouses, construction sites, markets, and takeaway restaurants.
The scale of the operation is significant. Over 12,300 people were arrested as part of these raids, a rise the Home Office says was made possible by a £5 million funding boost to Immigration Enforcement last year. Officials argue the extra funding has allowed teams to pursue what they describe as illegal working criminality more aggressively, particularly businesses believed to be undercutting lawful workers and exploiting vulnerable migrants.
At the heart of the government’s messaging is the claim that illegal working fuels wider problems within the immigration system. Ministers say the promise of work is one of the main incentives used by organised gangs to sell dangerous small boat crossings to the UK. By cracking down on illegal employment, they argue, the government is removing a key pull factor and restoring order to the system.
This push comes alongside a wider drive to remove and deport people with no legal right to remain in the UK. The Home Office says around 50,000 people have been removed, a 23% increase under the current government. Officials insist these measures are part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence in immigration control while supporting communities and local economies.
The enforcement drive is also being linked to the Prime Minister’s “Pride in Place” programme, which aims to revive high streets and neighbourhoods with £5 billion in funding. The government says local communities will gain new powers to take control of boarded-up shops, block nuisance businesses, and protect valued local assets, all as part of restoring pride, order, and fairness at street level.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has taken a firm tone, stating that there is no place for illegal working in British communities. She said enforcement activity has been surged to unprecedented levels so that people working illegally in the black economy have nowhere to hide, adding that restoring control of borders and immigration enforcement remains a top priority.
The impact of the crackdown has been felt across every region of the UK. London recorded more than 2,100 arrests last year, a 47% increase compared to 2024. The West Midlands and the South West each saw over 1,100 arrests, representing rises of 76% and 91% respectively. Officials say this shows enforcement activity is no longer concentrated in a few hotspots but spread nationwide.
Recent operations highlight how wide-ranging the visits have become. In November, officers attended a warehouse in Shoreham-by-Sea, resulting in 13 arrests, with most of those detained facing removal from the UK. In December, a restaurant in Tiverton lost its alcohol licence after evidence of illegal working emerged, and the business now faces civil penalties of £70,000 alongside ongoing compliance checks. Other operations at a market in Kempton Park and a construction site in Swindon led to dozens of arrests, with police and regional crime units supporting Immigration Enforcement teams.
Eddy Montgomery, Director of Immigration Compliance and Enforcement, said he was proud of his teams’ efforts and stressed that enforcement would continue across towns, cities, and villages. He warned there would be no hiding place for those breaching immigration laws, signalling that the current pace of activity is unlikely to slow.
One notable change is the nationwide rollout of body-worn cameras for Immigration Enforcement officers. Introduced gradually from September last year, all teams are now equipped with the technology, which the Home Office says will strengthen evidence gathering, support prosecutions, and increase transparency during enforcement visits.
Looking ahead, the government is expanding right-to-work checks under the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. These checks will now cover gig workers, casual labour, subcontractors, and temporary workers, closing loopholes that previously allowed illegal working to continue undetected. Authorities are also introducing mandatory digital ID for right-to-work checks by the end of the current Parliament, creating a fully digital system that aims to make verification easier for employers and tougher for those without permission to work.
At the same time, the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce is stepping up efforts against smuggling networks. Over the past 12 months, there has been a 33% increase in disruptions linked to migrant smuggling, with nearly 4,000 disruptions recorded since July 2024. A new agreement with France has also enabled the return of people arriving via small boats, reinforcing the government’s tougher stance.
For diaspora communities, including many Nigerians and other migrants who rely on accurate information to navigate life in the UK, these developments carry serious implications. The message from the Home Office is clear: enforcement is expanding, checks are tightening, and employers are under growing pressure to comply with the law. At the same time, migrants without secure status face increasing risks in informal or cash-in-hand work environments.
At Chijos News, we continue to focus on how UK immigration policies and enforcement actions affect real people within migrant and diaspora communities. As the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal working, staying informed, understanding your rights, and knowing the rules around employment have never been more important.