By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
STRONGER IMMIGRATION enforcement in the United Kingdom has led to over 600 arrests in January, marking a significant 73% increase compared to the same period last year.
The UK authorities said they have intensified crackdowns on illegal employment, targeting more than 800 businesses, including nail bars, restaurants, car washes, and convenience stores suspected of hiring undocumented workers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government also said he has adopted a tougher stance on illegal immigration, moving away from the previous Conservative administration’s Rwanda deportation plan.
Instead, efforts are now focused on dismantling human-smuggling networks and strengthening border security.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that illegal employment had gone unchecked for too long, vowing stricter enforcement and new legislation to combat criminal gangs benefiting from undocumented migration.
The Home Office also revealed that workplace visits and arrests related to illegal working have increased by 38% since Labour took power.
Undocumented crossings via the English Channel remain a pressing issue.
Official figures indicate that 36,816 people made the perilous journey in 2024, reflecting a 25% rise from the previous year.
To address this, the government has reinforced partnerships with European nations and introduced a Border Security Bill aimed at granting law enforcement counter-terrorism-style powers to disrupt migration networks.
Starmer, who assumed office in July, has promised stricter measures to curb illegal immigration.
His approach is seen as firm but balanced, especially when compared to his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.
However, growing political pressure from the Tories and the emerging Reform UK party has pushed him to take even stronger actions.
“The number of people entering the UK illegally is unacceptable. We are putting an end to it,” Starmer stated in a recent address.
His remarks followed a Home Office announcement detailing a new wave of immigration raids targeting undocumented workers.
The government is reportedly preparing to broadcast footage of deportations in an effort to deter illegal migration.
In November 2024, Starmer criticised the previous administration’s handling of immigration, stating, “They drove up immigration numbers; we will get them down.”
His administration now faces the challenge of delivering on that promise while navigating political opposition and public scrutiny.
