The Home Office has ignited a firestorm of criticism after launching an official TikTok account that posts dramatic, music-backed videos of immigration raids and deportations. Charities working with asylum seekers have accused the government of turning "brutality into clickbait" and warned that such communication risks inciting further violence towards migrants.
Dramatic Videos and a Stark Message
An account named @SecureBordersUK appeared on the platform on Tuesday, bearing the slogan "Restoring order and control to our borders." Its inaugural video, lasting 20 seconds, features clips of individuals being handcuffed and escorted onto aircraft, alongside footage of enforcement operations targeting illegal workers. The video concludes with an on-screen message stating, "And it’s just getting started."
Sile Reynolds, Head of Asylum Advocacy at Freedom From Torture, condemned the approach. "This government is clearly hooked on the cheap political points it can score by turning the brutality of enforcement raids into clickbait online entertainment," she said. Reynolds argued that this style of political messaging provokes the kind of anxiety and fear that fuelled recent summer riots and attacks on asylum accommodation.
Charities Condemn 'Performative Cruelty'
Reynolds further stated that compassionate people across the UK are growing increasingly alarmed by the government's "performative cruelty" towards those seeking sanctuary. She urged ministers to focus on uniting the country and to use its social media presence to "tell a more hopeful story about our capacity to welcome those seeking sanctuary in the UK."
Imran Hussain, Director of External Affairs at the Refugee Council, also criticised the move. He pointed out that only a small proportion of refugees in Europe come to the UK, often due to existing family, language, or cultural ties. "TikTok videos will not change this," he asserted.
In defence, the Home Office stated the account aims to tackle online misinformation and deter dangerous attempts to cross the English Channel.
Record Enforcement Figures Released
The controversy coincides with the publication of new Home Office data showing a significant surge in enforcement activity. The figures reveal that in 2025, 12,791 visits were made to businesses like nail bars, car washes, and takeaways to check for illegal working—a 57% increase from the 8,122 visits carried out in 2024.
Arrests for illegal working also hit a record high, reaching 8,971 in 2025. This marks a nearly 59% rise compared to the previous peak of 5,647 arrests in 2024. Of those detained last year, 1,087 people have already been removed from the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood declared, "There is no place for illegal working in our communities. That is why we have surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide."
However, the government's strategy faced political opposition as well. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp dismissed the TikTok initiative as "yet another pathetic gimmick that won’t work." He likened it to previous failed policies, stating, "The idea that putting some posts on TikTok will stop illegal immigrants is laughable."
