Almost 100 migrants could be deported after being caught working illegally in the UK, the Daily Express understands. The Home Office on Friday revealed 280 people were arrested during a week-long blitz on people working in the gig economy and food delivery industry. And 53 asylum seekers could lose their taxpayer-funded accommodation and support payments after being snared in the sting operation.
But 89 of the 280 those caught working illegally were detained and now face deportation.
Small boat arrivals have been spotted using taxpayer-funded hotels as a base to work for delivery firms such as Deliveroo, JustEat and Uber Eats within days of crossing the Channel.
Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “This story has only happened because I exposed what Labour refused to see. I went to one of these asylum hotels myself and found a black-market courier hub in plain sight, all on the taxpayer’s tab. And unsurprisingly Labour had no idea.
“Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone. People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. It’s a racket and Labour are letting it run.
“Illegal working is a pull factor sold by smugglers as a reward to break into our country and cross the Channel. That is why the Conservative Party is calling for new action – anyone who plays the system should have their status stripped, wages confiscated, and be deported.”
Immigration Enforcement Teams are being given a £5million funding boost to ramp up operations against migrants working illegally for firms such as JustEat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
This “major surge” will allow officers to hit “hot spots more frequently and increase enforcement teams’ intelligence gathering capabilities”.
Border Security Minister Angela Eagle said: “Illegal working undermines our border security and we’re cracking down hard on it.
“That’s why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crackdown on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK.
“This Government is making sure rules are respected and enforced – this operation is just one example of our relentless efforts to bear down on organised immigration crime at every level in our communities.”
Officers also seized 58 e-bikes and £8,000 in cash
Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at the Home Office, said: “We continue to intensify our activity against those who think they can get away with working illegally.
“My teams have been taking action around the clock, all across the country and I thank them for their hard work, co-operation and skill in dealing with this challenging issue.
“I welcome the additional funding which will allow us to strengthen our enforcement efforts against illegal working further, to ensure those fuelling it are caught.”
the Tories on Wednesday declared those caught working illegally should have their asylum claims automatically rejected.
They should then face deportation, Kemi Badenoch said, to prevent Britain becoming even more of a “soft touch”.
The Home Office in July struck a new agreement with food delivery companies Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, to share the locations of asylum hotels.
The move is designed to combat the practice of delivery drivers sharing their accounts with asylum seekers so that they can work illegally.
But the Tories blasted the deal, saying it “does nothing to punish offenders or close loopholes, such as account sharing, and therefore, did absolutely nothing to tackle this problem.”
Asylum seekers are banned from working during the first 12 months after lodging their claim, unless a decision is made sooner.
Deliveroo and JustEat delivery accounts are being offered to migrants on dedicated social media pages.
Some are paying as little as £40 for log-ins.
The food delivery firms have been ramping up identity and right-to-work checks, which led to thousands of workers being taken off the platforms, the Home Office said.
They have also vowed to use more facial verification checks and anti-fraud technology so only registered account holders can work on their platforms.