More than 20 individuals have been arrested following immigration enforcement operations across the West Midlands.
The Home Office reported that delivery drivers suspected of working without legal authorisation were targeted by officers in Birmingham, Coventry, and Hereford.
Photographs captured enforcement agents detaining two individuals at New Street railway station on Wednesday, where people were reportedly stopped for allegedly using modified e-bikes.
This activity is part of a wider effort to address unauthorised employment in sectors such as the gig economy, car washes, construction sites, and nail salons. Over the course of the two-day operation, 21 foreign nationals were detained for various immigration-related offences, according to the government.
Those arrested include individuals from Eritrea, Guinea, Italy, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Matthew Foster, the regional lead for immigration in the West Midlands, stated that unlawful employment undermines compliant businesses and exposes vulnerable individuals to exploitation.
“Anyone found working illegally or employing those without the right to work should expect to face legal consequences,” he said.
This enforcement initiative follows government commitments to intensify measures against illegal migration as part of broader efforts to “protect UK borders.”
Specific attention has been given to food delivery platforms such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, to curb unauthorised employment. In June, these companies agreed to enhance identity verification procedures after reports surfaced of asylum seekers working unlawfully as couriers.
All individuals detained now face potential removal from the United Kingdom.
Written by: LIIE IMMIGRATION
