UK immigration authorities have detained eleven men and one woman, all of Indian nationality, for breaching visa conditions and engaging in illegal work. The arrests followed raids on a bedding and mattress factory as well as a cake factory situated in the West Midlands region of England, prompted by intelligence suggesting the presence of unauthorized workers.
According to a statement from the UK Home Office, seven men were apprehended at the bedding factory for suspected illegal employment, all of whom were Indian nationals. Additionally, four Indian men, one of whom was working illegally, were discovered to be violating their visa terms at a nearby cake factory.
An Indian woman was also arrested for immigration violations at a residential facility. While four individuals face potential deportation pending further consideration, the remaining eight have been released on bail under the condition of reporting to immigration authorities.
The businesses implicated in the incident may incur substantial penalties for employing undocumented workers and failing to conduct adequate pre-employment checks.
Michael Tomlinson, UK Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, emphasized the operation as a proactive measure in intensifying immigration enforcement efforts nationwide.
UK Increases Fines for Employers of Illegal Migrants
“We’re significantly ramping up fines for rule-breaking employers, and if individuals are found to lack the right to live or work here, we’ll swiftly take action to remove them from the country,” declared Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance, and Crime at the Home Office.
As of February, the Home Office has tripled fines for employers hiring illegal migrants. For a first offense, fines have surged from GBP 15,000 to GBP 45,000 per illegal worker. Subsequent violations within three years will incur fines escalating from GBP 20,000 to GBP 60,000.
“Illegal employment not only harms communities and endangers vulnerable individuals but also defrauds the public purse. These arrests underscore our commitment to cracking down on this hazardous practice,” emphasized Montgomery.
He continued, “People smugglers deceive migrants into believing they can work in the UK. The truth is, they cannot, and those engaging in illegal work or aiding this crime will face severe legal consequences.”
UK Intensifies Efforts Against Illegal Migration
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made curbing illegal migration a primary focus, implementing stricter visa regulations across various categories in recent months.
Effective this week, the minimum income requirement for overseas applicants, including those from India, to sponsor family dependents on visas will rise to GBP 29,000 from the previous GBP 18,600. By early next year, this threshold will align with the GBP 38,700 requirement for Skilled Worker visas. The objective behind this adjustment is to guarantee adequate financial support for family dependents arriving in the UK.
