UK equality campaigner: Abuse of suspected migrants is not an ‘innocent mistake’

(UK) Abuse of suspected migrants is not an “innocent mistake” but the result of policy choices and enforcement practices that have hardened across the country, equality groups say. Since early 2025, immigration raids have increased, and campaigners argue the Hostile Environment—rebranded as a “compliant environment” after Windrush—still blocks access to work, benefits, and key services, pushing people into unsafe jobs and silence. Advocates warn that migrant women face higher risks of domestic abuse and exploitation under these rules, especially when fear of detention or deportation keeps them from seeking help.

New evidence supports their claims. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre recorded 665 cases of alleged abuse of migrant workers in 2024, with a large share involving UK-based workers. Reported harms range from wage theft and extreme overtime to verbal and physical abuse, plus barriers to getting any remedy. Undocumented workers appeared in about one-third of the cases, showing how lack of status can enable bosses to threaten, underpay, or fire people who speak up. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the scale and pattern point to systemic problems rather than isolated misconduct.

Ministers say they are responding to pressure on the asylum system and public concern about irregular arrivals. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2025 passed earlier this year, aiming to strengthen border controls and criminalize possession or supply of items used in serious crime, including immigration offences. The government notes that asylum claims rose more than fourfold over the past decade—from 55,814 in 2014 to 224,742 in 2024—and argues that tougher tools are needed to remove people who have no right to remain while protecting those who flee danger.

In May, the government released the Immigration White Paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” targeting net migration, which increased from 224,000 in 2019 to 906,000 in 2024. Plans include stricter checks on visa holders and tighter rules for employers who sponsor workers, paired with training programs to build domestic skills. Some proposals are already in motion, while others will roll out through the rest of 2025.

Rising enforcement and systemic harm

Community groups describe how immigration raids at workplaces and homes spread fear and lead to abrupt detentions. Under the Hostile Environment framework, people suspected of irregular status often avoid hospitals, police, or local authorities because they worry that sharing their details could trigger enforcement.

Although the term changed after Windrush, campaigners say the core restrictions remain and keep people in the shadows, where exploitation thrives.

Women face particular risks. Advocates report that abusers sometimes threaten to call immigration to keep partners from leaving. At work, women may contend with harassment on top of unpaid wages or unsafe conditions. Access to legal aid is narrow, and many services require proof of status—a barrier for those most at risk.

What this looks like on the ground:

• Workplace and community operations
  • Officers target places suspected of employing or hosting people without valid papers.
  • Detainees can be moved swiftly for removal action.
• Asylum intake and processing
  • People who arrive irregularly, including by small boats, are registered and processed by the Home Office.
  • New bilateral arrangements seek to return some arrivals to France or Rwanda under pilot schemes.
• Legal support and services
  • Many irregular migrants have limited or no access to public funds and legal aid under current rules.
  • NGOs step in where they can but face resource and policy constraints.

Policy moves and political response

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and other officials say the aim is to secure borders, reduce irregular migration, and maintain protection for genuine refugees. The strategy relies on deterrence—tougher laws, expanded checks, and cooperation with France on Channel crossings—combined with stronger enforcement powers.

But rights groups, some Labour MPs, parts of the Conservative Party, and several NGOs argue that this approach heightens the risk of abuse of suspected migrants and can push more people into exploitation.

A review led by Baroness Casey, expected in mid-2025, is set to examine links between illegal immigration and the exploitation of vulnerable groups, including British girls targeted by grooming gangs. Early signals suggest the review will call for a national inquiry into institutional failures and racial dynamics. Campaigners say that to be effective, any inquiry must also look closely at enforcement practices that deter victims and witnesses from coming forward.

Requirements and expectations for employers

For employers, the White Paper means tighter sponsorship duties and a clear message to invest in local hiring and training. Firms must:

1. Conduct right-to-work checks and keep thorough records.
2. Meet higher standards for sponsor licence monitoring.
3. Respond quickly to compliance visits and data requests.
4. Address breaches promptly or face fines and possible licence loss.

Critics warn that without accessible reporting channels and safe status options, workers will hesitate to report wage theft or unsafe sites. They call for:

• Stronger whistleblower protections
• Clear firewalls between public services and immigration enforcement
• Better access to legal advice

Practical effects already visible

• People without status face a higher chance of detention and fast-tracked removal if caught in immigration raids.
• As processing backlogs grow with rising claims, applicants wait longer for decisions, adding stress for families.
• Women at risk may remain with abusers because they fear arrest if they seek help.
• Community groups field more calls but have limited capacity, especially outside major cities.

The government maintains that reform is necessary to restore public confidence. Officials point to net migration and asylum trends and say that effective returns, combined with safe legal routes for those in real need, are both essential. Opponents argue that the current mix of rules—especially the Hostile Environment—undercuts the very safeguards that should protect victims from traffickers, violent partners, and predatory employers.

Advocates’ proposed steps to reduce harm

Advocates propose measures they say could reduce harm while keeping controls in place:

• Firewalls between victim support services and immigration enforcement so people can report abuse safely.
• Clear, time-bound routes to regularize status for long-term residents with strong ties.
• Expanded legal aid for workers alleging wage theft, harassment, or unsafe conditions.
• Transparent reporting on raids, detentions, and outcomes to allow public scrutiny.

The Home Office directs the public and stakeholders to its official portal for policy updates, operational notes, and contact details: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office. Campaign groups also share resources on rights at work and how to seek help after a raid, though they stress that people should get tailored legal advice before taking action.

What’s next

As 2025 progresses, the White Paper agenda is set to stay at the center of the debate. Any new findings from the Casey review may add pressure for changes to enforcement culture. Meanwhile, rights monitors—especially those tracking labor harm—plan to keep documenting cases. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre says that continued reporting is vital to show patterns, not just headlines.

Campaigners argue that the system must shift so that reporting an abusive boss or a violent partner does not risk detention.

The policy arguments remain sharp, but one fact is clear: treating the abuse of suspected migrants as an accident misses the bigger picture. The trends—more immigration raids, constrained services, and rising fear—point to a structure that needs repair if safety, fairness, and the rule of law are to hold for everyone.