UK immigration raids hit record high

There has been a record surge in immigration enforcement action, with illegal working raids and arrests reaching their highest level, according to the latest figures reported by the UK Government. The Government reported a sharp rise in activity across the country, including Northern Ireland, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal working. According to the Home Office, the number of raids carried out by Immigration Enforcement teams across the UK has increased by 77% since the government came into power, while arrests have risen by 83% between July 2024 and the end of December 2025. During this period, more than 17,400 raids were conducted nationwide, leading to over 12,300 arrests. Raids target high-risk sectors The enforcement activity focused on businesses such as nail bars, car washes, barbers and takeaway shops, which authorities say are often used to undercut lawful workers and conceal illegal employment. The Home Office said a £5 million funding boost last year enabled Immigration Enforcement teams to scale up operations against illegal working. In Northern Ireland, enforcement action also rose sharply. Officials said 187 raids were carried out in 2025, resulting in 234 arrests. This marked a 76% increase in raids and a 169% rise in arrests compared with 2024. Crackdown linked to wider immigration reforms The government said the intensified enforcement forms part of its broader effort to restore control over the immigration system and reduce the incentive for illegal migration. Officials linked the crackdown to measures aimed at disrupting criminal gangs that use the promise of illegal work to encourage people to cross the Channel in small boats. The Home Office said the UK has removed and deported 50,000 people with no legal right to remain in the country, a 23% increase under the current government. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said, “There is no place for illegal working in our communities. That is why we have surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide. I will stop at nothing to restore order and control to our borders.” Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said illegal working harms legitimate businesses and fuels criminal networks, adding that enforcement had been increased to record levels. Technology and tougher checks The Home Office said Immigration Enforcement officers across the UK are now equipped with body-worn video technology, which is expected to support arrests and prosecutions. The government is also expanding right-to-work checks to cover gig, casual, subcontracted and temporary workers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. The government has also announced plans to introduce mandatory digital ID to prove the right to work by the end of the current Parliament, a move aimed at making checks simpler for employers while limiting opportunities for illegal employment.