The UK government has launched a massive 'blitz', targeting Indian restaurants, nail bars, convenience stores and car washes which employ illegal migrants, just days after President Donald Trump-led US government launched a massive crackdown on immigration, media reports said.

A video was shared by the UK Home Department where a large number of illegal immigrants, who would be deported, were seen taking off from a bus and then climbing up the stairs of a plane.

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Sharing the video, the department wrote on X: "Through our Plan for Change, we have removed almost 19,000 people including failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and immigration offenders from the UK since July 2024."

In a statement, the UK Home Office said by redeploying 1,000 staff to work on immigration enforcement and sending a clear signal that those coming here illegally will be returned swiftly – between 5 July 2024 and 31 January 2025, enforced returns are up 24%, removals of foreign national offenders up 21% and illegal working raids up by 38% compared to the same period 12 months prior.

These figures represent the highest rate of returns seen in the UK since 2018 and include the 4 biggest returns charter flights in the UK’s history, with a total of more than 850 people on board.

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As part of this release, the Home Office has for the first time shared images of the inner working of the removals process to provide further understanding of this important work.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:   "To rebuild public confidence in the immigration system, we need to show the rules are respected and enforced. That’s why, as part of the government’s Plan for Change, we have put significant additional resource into immigration enforcement and returns, so those who have no right to be here, particularly those who have committed crimes in our country, are removed as swiftly as possible."

US launches crackdown against illegal immigrants

104 Indians were deported in a US military aircraft from San Antonio, Texas to Amritsar last week.

The deportation was part of Donald Trump's massive crackdown launched against illegal immigrants after his inauguration on January 20.