Migrant crackdown raid at Christmas market lands 11 illegal workers in handcuffs

A crackdown on migrants working illegally at a Christmas marketresulted in the arrest of 11 men.

Nine men of Indian, Iraqi and Chinese nationality were arrested at Kempton Park Market in Surrey on Thursday, November 11. A further two men from India were arrested at residential addresses nearby.

Five of the men now face being removed from the UK. The remaining six were released on immigration bail, but must report in regularly, the Home Office said.

The operation was a joint effort by the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement team, Surrey Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Video footage shows several officers swooping on the market, which takes place every Thursday on the racecourse.

The operation forms part of the Government's sweeping reforms to make the country a less attractive destination for illegal migrants and make it easier to remove them.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said: "Illegal working undercuts honest workers and undermines our immigration rules. We won't stand for it. That's why we are ripping away this pull factor through record levels of enforcement action right across Britain."

This year has seen the largest enforcement crackdown on illegal working since records began. Latest figures show that more than 8,000 illegal migrants have been arrested following 11,000 raids between October 2024 and September 2025.

Home Office immigration enforcement inspector Sam Malhotra said there was "no hiding place" from the immigration rules.

"We are working around the clock to identify this criminality wherever it is taking place and those found working illegally will be arrested, detained and removed wherever possible.

"This activity is ramping up right across the UK with enforcement levels at their highest rate in British history."

The news comes as more than 700 migrants crossed the Channel on Saturday after a four-week gap in small boat crossings, according to the latest Home Office figures.

"The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better," a Home Office spokesperson said on Friday.

"This Government is taking action. We have removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back."