Mahmood’s ICE-style immigration raid agency accused of ‘fishing expeditions’

Freedom of information data has raised questions about the Home Office’s expanded immigration enforcement raids, which the home secretary says are intended to deter irregular migration and secure the UK’s borders. Critics argue the high proportion of visits leading to no arrests, and the frequent absence of warrants, point to weakly founded searches that can affect innocent workers and businesses.

There were 23,538 enforcement visits in 2025, about 60 a day; 15,578, or 66.1%, resulted in no arrests. Warrants were used in 25.81% of visits where premises were accessed, while 89% of reported leads came from the public or Crimestoppers and around 2% from police. The Home Office says intelligence is examined thoroughly before raids. In one case, a restaurant worker was arrested but released after his sister brought identification showing he was allowed to work; the owner said business then fell.