Migrants on black market face crackdown to force them out of country

‘Hostile environment’ is back: Migrants working on black market face new crackdown to force them out of the country

  • Immigration minister wants only those eligible to work to access public services
  • Robert Jenrick hopes to prevent illegal migrants from exploiting casual jobs

Illegal migrants working in the black market face a new crackdown in a return of ‘hostile environment’ checks.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said the Home Office will use ‘every available power’ to ensure ‘only those eligible can work, receive benefits or access public services’.

He wants to expand the ‘hostile environment for illegal migration’ led by Theresa May as home secretary and paused in the wake of the Windrush scandal. 

Mr Jenrick will lead a taskforce that will carry out checks on bank accounts, jobs and examine how to protect access to rented accommodation and driving licences.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick wants to expand the ‘hostile environment for illegal migration’ led by Theresa May and paused in the wake of the Windrush scandal

It will also review legislation to prevent illegal migrants from exploiting the explosion in casual jobs in the gig economy, such as food delivery roles.

It also aims to increase by 50 per cent visits to workplaces such as construction and car washes.

There has already been a 10 per cent rise in raids to 1,152 to such businesses since Dec 11, resulting in 362 arrests and firms issued with 92 illegal working civil penalties, worth £1.5million.

In one raid on building site earlier this month, immigration officials deployed a video drone to catch runaway illegal workers.

More than 50 officers from the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement agency – backed by seven police officers – launched a dawn raid at the site of a luxury housing estate on the outskirts of Crawley, West Sussex.

A drone equipped with video and infra red cameras was flown overhead as officers entered the site to track scattering workers.

A 24-year-old Albanian man was arrested after he attempted to flee. Checks later found he was in the UK illegally despite being previously removed from the country.

Mr Jenrick said: ‘Our Immigration Enforcement teams are working round the clock to bring those violating our laws to justice’

The intelligence-led operation came just four months after a similar raid at the same site, owned by Newcastle-based developer Bellway, which led to seven arrests for illegal working.

The development, Riverbrook Place, features more than 100 new homes priced at up to £495,000.

Bellway said the arrested man had been working for one of their sub-contractors.

Mr Jenrick said: ‘Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating honest workers of employment, putting vulnerable people at risk, and defrauding the public purse.

‘Our Immigration Enforcement teams are working round the clock to bring those violating our laws to justice. It’s our priority to crack down on this crime and empower law enforcement to remove illegal migrants.

‘With support from our new enforcement taskforce, we will go further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders and crack down on individuals exploiting the generosity of the UK taxpayer.’

The Home Office is also working with police to increase their role in cracking down on car washes operating illegally.

Bosses caught employing migrants without the right to work can face fines up to £20,000 per worker, a jail sentence of up to five years, closure of their business and disqualification as a director.

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