UK Government Unleashes Trump-Style Crackdown on Illegal Migrants, Targets Indian Restaurants

ANS: The UK government has initiated a major enforcement operation aimed at cracking down on businesses employing illegal migrants, including Indian restaurants, nail bars, convenience stores, and car washes. The move comes just days after the US government, led by former President Donald Trump, launched a similar crackdown on illegal immigration.

A video released by the UK Home Department showed illegal immigrants being escorted off a bus and onto a plane, ready for deportation. The department shared the footage along with a statement on social media, highlighting the success of its “Plan for Change,” which has resulted in the removal of nearly 19,000 people from the UK since July 2024. The removals include failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals, and other immigration offenders.

The Home Office emphasized the importance of restoring public confidence in the UK’s immigration system. In the statement, the department revealed that between July 5, 2024, and January 31, 2025, immigration enforcement actions saw a significant increase: a 24% rise in forced returns, a 21% increase in the removal of foreign national offenders, and a 38% surge in illegal working raids compared to the same period in the previous year.

These figures mark the highest return rate seen in the UK since 2018, with the government carrying out its four largest deportation flights in history, collectively transporting more than 850 individuals.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented on the operation, stating, “To rebuild public confidence in the immigration system, we need to show that the rules are respected and enforced. That’s why we’ve significantly increased resources for immigration enforcement and returns, ensuring those who have no right to be in the UK are swiftly removed, especially those who have committed crimes.”

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the US government has also ramped up its efforts to tackle illegal immigration. Last week, a US military plane carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants was flown from San Antonio, Texas to Amritsar, India. This deportation was part of the Trump administration’s extensive crackdown on illegal immigration, which began shortly after his inauguration on January 20, 2025.