The UK Home Office revealed that its Immigration Enforcement teams recently conducted Operation Equalise as part of a “nationwide intensification week of activity” focused on illegal working hotspots, particularly migrants working as delivery riders.
Between July 20 and 27, a total of 1,780 individuals were stopped, leading to 280 arrests of migrants and asylum seekers found working without proper documentation, the Home Office said.
During one raid in Hillingdon, west London, officers arrested seven Indian nationals, five of whom were detained for illegal work activity”
Illegal working undermines our border security and we’re cracking down hard on it. That’s why we have intensified our enforcement activity across the UK to catch those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws,” said Dame Angela Eagle, UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum.
“This operation is just one example of our relentless efforts to bear down on organised immigration crime at every level in our communities,” she added.
As a direct outcome of Operation Equalise, the Home Office said 53 individuals are now having their asylum support reviewed, which could result in suspension or withdrawal of support such as accommodation or payments.
The operation follows a Home Office warning last month that food delivery workers caught abusing the immigration system could lose asylum support and face removal from the UK
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