New Delhi September 21:
The United Kingdom Border enforcement agencies have arrested 19 Indian nationals during the past month for illegally working and trafficking offences in the UK.
An Indian national has also been jailed for 10 years for a major immigration scam, a spokesman of the British High Commission here said. The enforcement operations took place between August 12 and September 13 as part of a planned nationwide action by the UK Border Agency to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.
Sixteen migrants were arrested for working illegally at a catering firm in West London, a laundry in Hampshire and for a supplier to a racecourse in Merseyside. Action is being taken to remove all the 16 from the UK. The three businesses have been issued with warnings that they face up to 160,000 Pound-Sterling in fines for employing the workers unless they proved that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks.
The High Commission spokesman, quoting Damian Green, the UK Immigration Minister, said the government has tasked the UK Border Agency with carrying out an intense period of enforcement activity over the summer. ''We are determined to make it harder than ever for illegal immigrants to come to the UK...Illegal immigration puts pressure on public services, local communities and legitimate businesses at a time when this country cannot afford it.
That's why the UK Border Agency is working to cut illegal employment, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised smugglers being used by foreign nationals to try to stay in the UK illegally,'' he said.
The United Kingdom Border enforcement agencies have arrested 19 Indian nationals during the past month for illegally working and trafficking offences in the UK.
An Indian national has also been jailed for 10 years for a major immigration scam, a spokesman of the British High Commission here said. The enforcement operations took place between August 12 and September 13 as part of a planned nationwide action by the UK Border Agency to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.
Sixteen migrants were arrested for working illegally at a catering firm in West London, a laundry in Hampshire and for a supplier to a racecourse in Merseyside. Action is being taken to remove all the 16 from the UK. The three businesses have been issued with warnings that they face up to 160,000 Pound-Sterling in fines for employing the workers unless they proved that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks.
The High Commission spokesman, quoting Damian Green, the UK Immigration Minister, said the government has tasked the UK Border Agency with carrying out an intense period of enforcement activity over the summer. ''We are determined to make it harder than ever for illegal immigrants to come to the UK...Illegal immigration puts pressure on public services, local communities and legitimate businesses at a time when this country cannot afford it.
That's why the UK Border Agency is working to cut illegal employment, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised smugglers being used by foreign nationals to try to stay in the UK illegally,'' he said.
