Immigration raid agency faces criticism over high rate of warrantless visits

The UK immigration enforcement agency led by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has faced sharp criticism after new figures showed that nearly two-thirds of its operations result in no arrests. Critics argue that the high volume of warrantless visits indicates a strategy of fishing expeditions, a claim the Home Office has strongly disputed.

Data released in response to freedom of information requests shows that there were 23,538 immigration enforcement engagements in 2025, averaging 60 per day. Of these interactions, which included workplace raids, home visits, and spot checks, 15,578, or 66.1%, ended without any arrests being made.

The statistical breakdown highlights that only 25.81% of visits where officers accessed premises were conducted under a warrant. This low usage has led observers to question the strength of the intelligence driving these operations. Additionally, nearly nine out of ten leads alleging immigration crimes in 2025 originated from the public or the charity Crimestoppers, while only about 2% came from police sources.

The Home Secretary has defended the expanded use of enforcement teams, stating they help secure borders by removing incentives for irregular migration. Under her leadership, raids have targeted informal black market work in sectors such as nail bars, car washes, barbershops, takeaways, construction sites, and warehouses, as well as private homes.

The controversy gained further visibility following a raid on Sultanz, an Indian restaurant in Camborne, Cornwall, last month. Owner Samsu Ali described the scene as an invasion, noting that staff and customers scattered as officers arrived in unmarked vans. Ali stated that officers entered without a warrant and questioned every worker about their immigration status.

One employee, Nanu Mia, was handcuffed and marched to a van after giving his details to officers who struggled to understand him. He was released after his sister arrived with his ID card, which proved he had the right to work. Despite being cleared of breaches, Ali reported a steep decline in customer numbers and shared that he struggled to sleep after reading racist comments in a local Facebook group.

Legal experts note that officers can enter licensed premises without a warrant under specific sections of the Licensing Act or by requesting consent from the tenant or manager. In over 12,000 cases last year, officers relied on consent rather than judicial authorization. Kevin Barker, a former immigration officer, described many of these actions as fishing expeditions based on tenuous or outdated tip-offs.

Mothin Ali, the deputy leader of the Green Party, called the findings alarming and urged the government to end what he termed unjustified raids. He argued that the declining use of warrants raises serious legal questions and warned that Britain should not import the immigration enforcement playbook of the United States.

Arrests of foreign nationals working illegally in the UK have doubled since the current government took office. The Home Office reported in August that more than 17,000 arrests had been made since July 2024, a 122% increase over the previous two years, with record numbers of raids and arrests occurring in 2026.

Opposition parties continue to argue that the availability of illegal work acts as a pull factor for migrants, encouraging crossings of the Channel in small boats. The debate highlights a growing tension between aggressive enforcement tactics and the rights of workers and businesses in the UK.