Hundreds of individuals have been expelled from the United Kingdom following raids conducted by the Home Office at eateries, fast food delivery services, beauty parlors, and car wash establishments. According to the Home Office, there has been a 63% increase in arrests for illegal employment, resulting in the removal of over 1,050 migrants in the largest crackdown on record. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that this action aims to discourage individuals from attempting to enter the UK via small boats.
Mahmood emphasized that illegal employment serves as an incentive for those seeking to enter the country unlawfully and that such activities will no longer be tolerated. Individuals discovered working illegally in beauty salons, car washes, and as delivery drivers will face arrest, detention, and deportation from the country. Mahmood affirmed a firm commitment to safeguarding Britain’s borders, supported by new legislation imposing up to five years of imprisonment for employers hiring illegal workers.
Recent government data revealed that over 8,000 migrants were arrested following 11,000 Immigration Enforcement raids conducted between October of the previous year and September 2025. This surge in arrests and enforcement activities followed a £5 million investment in Operation Sterling aimed at combating unauthorized employment. Right-to-work checks are being strengthened to prevent individuals from slipping through the system, with severe penalties for employers failing to conduct these checks.
Current regulations mandate right-to-work verifications primarily for companies with standard employer-employee contracts. However, the government seeks to eliminate a loophole that exempts casual, temporary, or subcontracted workers from proving their eligibility to work in the UK. A consultation process will solicit input from businesses on current recruitment practices and provide guidance on implementing more robust right-to-work procedures.
In parallel, delivery service providers like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats have intensified their verification processes, focusing on authenticating identities and right-to-work statuses to combat concerns of illicit employment through their platforms.
