The UK immigration strategy, reflected in the government’s intensified approach to immigration enforcement, including increased raids, detentions, and deportations, is pushing more undocumented migrants into hiding and heightening their risk of exploitation, according to over 80 charities.
Coordinated by Migrant Voice, the charities, including Care4Calais, City of Sanctuary UK, and Anti-Slavery International, have urged the Home Secretary to create simpler pathways for undocumented migrants to regularize their status. This change would allow them to work legally, reducing their vulnerability to exploitative employers and human trafficking gangs.
On 27 August, the Home Office announced a week-long operation targeting illegal working. The operation involved inspections of 275 premises, resulting in notices being issued to 135 for employing undocumented workers. Despite the government’s aim to protect vulnerable individuals, the operation led to the detention of 85 undocumented workers.
The government has also conducted the largest single deportation on record this month, sending over 200 individuals to Brazil. Since Labour came to power, at least nine deportation charter flights have been carried out.
The charities argue that many individuals become undocumented in the UK due to factors beyond their control, such as administrative errors or miscommunication from the Home Office. They suggest that a policy focused on regularization would be more effective and cost-efficient than current measures, allowing these individuals to regain documented status and contribute to the economy.
The ongoing enforcement measures, including frequent raids on businesses and homes, are causing significant distress among undocumented migrants, pushing them further underground and making them more susceptible to exploitation. The charities advocate for a shift in government policy towards regularization, which they believe would enable these individuals to live more secure and productive lives.
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