Indian migrants arrested for working illegally in the UK

H S Rao
London, Aug 11 (PTI) Eighteen Indian migrants working
illegally in the UK face deportation after being arrested as
part of a planned crackdown to tackle unlawful working, sham
marriages and bogus colleges, officials said Wednesday.
The workers were arrested at two catering firms in
West London, a clothing factory in Leicester and a restaurant
in Aberdeen. They were arrested for working illegally and for
other immigration offences.
The four businesses have been issued with warnings
that they face up to 180,000 pounds in fines for employing the
workers, unless they can prove they carried out the correct
right-to-work checks.
The enforcement operations by the UK Border Agency
took place between July 22 and 29 as part of planned
nationwide action to tackle illegal working, sham marriages,
bogus colleges and organised immigration crime, it is
officially stated Wednesday.
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," he said.
"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 added. PTI