Dozens of food delivery drivers are set to be deported from the United Kingdom following a targeted immigration enforcement operation focused on the gig economy. The Home Office confirmed that 171 people were arrested across the country last month, with 60 of those detained pending removal from the UK.
Nationwide Enforcement Operations
The crackdown, which took place throughout November 2025, saw coordinated action in several major UK cities. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was personally present at one operation in Streatham, south London, underscoring the government's focus on the issue. Official video footage released by the Home Office shows enforcement officers escorting an arrested individual into an immigration van and making another arrest by a bicycle in the street.
Those detained included Chinese nationals working in a restaurant in Solihull, West Midlands, as well as Bangladeshi and Indian delivery riders in Newham, east London. Further arrests of Indian delivery riders were made in Norwich, Norfolk.
Government's Stance and Legislative Push
The drive forms a central part of ministers' efforts to deter illegal migration by clamping down on illegal working. Border Security Minister Alex Norris stated: "These results should send a clear message, if you are working illegally in this country, you will be arrested and removed." He described the action as part of "the most sweeping changes to illegal migration in modern times".
This enforcement surge coincides with the recent enactment of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which became law on Tuesday 3rd December 2025. The new legislation closes a loophole that previously allowed casual, temporary, or subcontracted workers to avoid proving their immigration status.
Broader Crackdown and Sector Cooperation
Home Office data reveals a significant increase in enforcement, with 8,232 arrests of illegal workers in the year to September 2025. This marks a sharp 63% rise from the 5,043 arrests recorded in the previous twelve-month period.
Ministers have also been collaborating with major food delivery platforms, including Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, to address identity fraud and account-sharing abuses. In a notable move last July, the Home Office agreed to share the locations of asylum seeker hotels with these companies to help tackle suspected hotspots of illegal working on their platforms.
The consequences for employers are now more severe. Businesses that fail to conduct proper right-to-work checks risk fines of up to £60,000 for each illegal worker, prosecution leading to a potential five-year prison sentence, and being forced to close.
