More than 600 immigration arrests in January – as government expects rise in deportations
The Labour government is attempting to make immigration and secure borders a
strong part of their message to try to prevent the leaking of voters to the
Conservatives and Reform UK.
Political reporter
Monday 10 February 2025 00:01, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or
activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or
activating the close button.
More than 600 immigration arrests were made last month, as authorities carried
out more than 800 raids, the Home Office has said.
The Labour government points out this was a 73% increase compared to January
last year – when the Conservatives were in power – and 352 arrests were made
across 556 visits.
Labour have been emphasising border security since its election, recognising
that the topic is one of the most important to voters – and not wanting to lose
ground to the Tories or Reform UK.
Some 3,930 arrests have been made over 5,424 visits by immigration enforcement
officers since July when Labour took over, according to Home Office figures.
The number of arrests highlighted today happened after a series of raids at
businesses like restaurants, takeaways, cafes, car washes, nail bars and vape
shops.
In total, Labour said that more than 16,400 people have been deported since the
election – and the government says this number is expected to go up later on
Monday when new data is published.
These deportations have included more than 800 people being off-shored aboard
four chartered flights.
Woman arrested on suspicion of using ‘wigs and disguises’ to take immigration
test for others
Fraud suspect, 61, ‘used wigs and disguises’ to take citizenship tests for
others, Home Office says
Three men found guilty after people smuggling probe sparked by woman found in
car glove box
This is alongside the 609 people arrested over 828 raids in January.
Read more:
More people cross Channel on weekends – why?
[https://news.sky.com/topic/migrant-crisis-5820]
New Labour group to focus on threat of Reform UK
[https://news.sky.com/story/labour-mps-set-up-new-group-to-focus-on-threat-of-reform-uk-13303209]
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The immigration rules must be respected and
enforced. For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit
illegal migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally
with no enforcement action ever taken.
“Not only does this create a dangerous draw for people to risk their lives by
crossing the Channel in a small boat, but it results in the abuse of vulnerable
people, the immigration system and our economy.
“That’s why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are boosting enforcement to
record levels alongside tough new legislation to smash the criminal gangs that
undermine our border security and who have been getting away with it for far too
long.”
The government highlighted how a raid on a Cheshire vape shop led to 10
immigrant arrests and two criminal arrests – the latter for counterfeit
documents.
Civil penalty referral notices were also made to employers.
Upon entering government, Labour immediately scrapped the Rwanda deportation
scheme championed by various Conservative prime ministers.
The roughly 1,000 transferred staff that had been working on the programme have
instead been used to help with the enforcement of immigration rules.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or
activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or
activating the close button.
The Conservatives still claim that the Rwanda scheme would work as a “deterrent”
for illegal migrants.
Other measures the government has taken include launching adverts in Vietnam and
Albania to dissuade potential migrants, and working with other countries to try
to prevent people coming to the UK illegally.
Follow our channel and never miss an update.
In March, the UK will host a border security summit – with the government
claiming more than 40 countries will come together alongside bodies like the EU
to discuss illegal migration.
The government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is set to be
debated in the House of Commons in its second reading this week.
But the bill has been criticised by Conservative opponents.
👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈
[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/electoral-dysfunction/id1613562765]
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Chris Philp MP, shadow home secretary, called it a “weak bill that won’t stop
the boats”.
“Shockingly, the bill also restores an illegal migrant’s capability to claim
indefinite leave to remain,” he added.
“This follows new research showing that if Labour don’t back the plan set out by
Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives, millions more migrants could obtain ILR
(indefinite leave to remain), costing the taxpayer £234bn. That is why Labour
must back our amendment.
“Under new leadership, the Conservatives are coming up with effective and
deliverable reforms to cut immigration. Our country is our home, not a hotel.”
