UK immigration enforcement teams carried out over 600 arrests in January, a 73% increase compared to the same period in 2024, as part of the Labour government's crackdown on
undocumented migration and human smuggling networks. Officials confirmed the intensified efforts on Monday.
According to a government statement, 609 individuals were arrested following inspections at more than 800 establishments, including nail salons, restaurants, car washes, and convenience stores. This marks a sharp rise from the 352 arrests recorded in January 2024.
Labour’s immigration strategy
After assuming office last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer promptly abandoned the Conservative government’s controversial plan to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda. Instead, he vowed to dismantle criminal smuggling operations responsible for the rising numbers of unauthorized arrivals.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that for too long, employers have been able to exploit undocumented workers with little to no enforcement action.
“We are ramping up enforcement to unprecedented levels, coupled with tough new legislation aimed at dismantling the criminal gangs undermining border security,” Cooper stated.
Migration at the heart of political debate
The issue of undocumented migration, particularly the dangerous crossings of the English Channel from northern France, was a major topic in last July’s general election. Legal migration also remains a key concern, with figures reaching an estimated 728,000 in the year leading to June 2024.
Starmer’s administration faces pressure to curb both legal and undocumented migration to counter the rising popularity of Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party. The party garnered approximately four million votes in the July 4 election, an unprecedented result for a far-right political group in Britain.
Provisional data from the interior ministry indicates that 36,816 people were detected crossing the Channel in 2024, reflecting a 25% increase from the 29,437 crossings recorded in 2023.
Government actions and new legislation
In response, Starmer has established the Border Security Command and bolstered cooperation with European allies, including Europol. The UK has also signed agreements with Germany and Iraq to combat smuggling networks, building on previous Conservative-led pacts with France and Albania.
Additionally, the government highlights a significant rise in the deportation of irregular migrants, reaching the highest levels since 2017.
A new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which would grant law enforcement officials "counter-terror style powers" to dismantle smuggling gangs, is scheduled for its second reading in Parliament on Monday. Photo by ukhomeoffice, Wikimedia commons.