The United Kingdom’s Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced that 19,000 illegal immigrants have been deported since the Labour government took office.
Speaking during an interview on GBN and in a statement on the Home Office website, Cooper emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws.
She stated that restoring public confidence in the immigration system requires strict enforcement of the rules, which is why the government has significantly increased resources for immigration enforcement and deportations to ensure that those without legal status—particularly individuals with criminal records—are swiftly removed.
According to the Home Office, the deported individuals include failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals, and other immigration offenders, with removals carried out across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
The Home Office reported that the current rate of deportations is the highest since 2018, with four of the largest deportation charter flights in UK history resulting in the removal of over 850 people.
Since July 5, 2024, the government has reassigned 1,000 staff members to immigration enforcement, leading to a 24% rise in enforced removals, a 21% increase in deportations of foreign offenders, and a 38% surge in raids targeting businesses employing illegal workers.
In January alone, immigration enforcement teams conducted 828 raids on businesses such as nail salons, convenience stores, restaurants, and car washes, marking a 48% increase compared to the previous year.
These operations led to 609 arrests, a 73% rise from January 2024, while the Home Office issued 1,090 civil penalty notices to businesses found employing undocumented workers, warning that violators could face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
The Home Secretary also revealed plans to introduce new laws to combat human smuggling networks.
As part of the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, law enforcement agencies will be granted expanded powers, including the authority to seize mobile phones from illegal entrants before arrest. Furthermore, the UK government will host a Border Security Summit on March 31 and April 1 at Lancaster House in London, bringing together representatives from over 40 countries and international institutions, including the European Union, to strengthen efforts against illegal migration and organized immigration crime.
Cooper described the summit as a pivotal moment in the UK’s fight against organized immigration crime.
