Rise in Immigration Enforcement: A New Era of Accountability

This week has underscored the Home Office’s commitment to stringent immigration enforcement.

On 21 August, the Home Secretary unveiled a set of measures aimed at tightening the immigration rules. Among these initiatives is a new intelligence-driven illegal working programme designed to target, investigate, and penalise employers who hire individuals without the right to work.

Employers found in violation can face severe consequences, including hefty civil penalties, business closures, or even imprisonment. Earlier this year, the Home Office raised the maximum civil penalty for illegal working from £20,000 to £60,000 per illegal worker.

Recent quarterly transparency data, published by the Home Office on 22 August 2024, reveals that in the second quarter of 2024, the Home Office issued 568 civil penalties for illegal working, amounting to £21.5 million in fines. This marks the first quarter under the new penalty regime. In comparison, the previous quarter saw 412 penalties issued, totalling £8.1 million. The new penalties are designed to be financially devastating.

Enforcement efforts extend beyond right-to-work violations. Employers with sponsor licences are also under increased scrutiny. Data from the Home Office shows that in the second quarter of 2024, 524 skilled worker licences were suspended, and an additional 499 were revoked. This represents the highest level of action against sponsors since records began in 2012. However, this increase correlates with the rise in the number of sponsor licences, which now exceed 100,000, compared to just 25,000 a decade ago.