18,000 illegal immigrants caught working in Britain in just three years… but only A THIRD are kicked out
The shocking stats equate to 16 immigrants entering Britain every day with only one in three eventually being deported
NEARLY 18,000 illegal immigrants have been caught working in Britain over the past three years - equivalent to 16 every day.
In the latest sign of Britain’s woeful border controls, the Sun can reveal immigration officers discovered 4,863 alone last year.
But only one in three is being deported.
The shock figures come just three weeks after former UK Border Agency boss Rob Whiteman warned up to a million illegal immigrants may be living in Britain and will never be kicked out.
And it sparked calls for the Home Office to toughen up or risk thousands more people arriving on British shores.
Official figures tomorrow are set to reveal another huge rise in net migration.
Tory MP and former police special constable David Davies said: “These worrying figures show that we have to do much more to enforce our borders and make sure that those who are breaking the law are deported quickly.
“Failing to do so sends a dangerous signal to others thinking of coming here that they will be able to get away with it.”
The Home Office figures show 4,814 illegal immigrants were arrested for working illegally in 2015-16, 4,863 the previous year, and 8,143 in 2013-14.
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But only 1,295 were sent home last year, 1,784 the previous year, and 3,400 in 2013-14.
A further 50 have had dates set for their removal.
Last year the Government beefed up punishments for illegal immigrants caught working in a bid to stop people coming here.
Offenders now face six months in prison or massive fine, while bosses can be fined £20,000 per illegal worker.
They are also meant to be deported but ministers have admitted it is difficult because many have “no place to go”.
Last week emerged dozens of illegal immigrant workers at posh burger chain Byron had been arrested in a Home Office swoop – mostly from Latin America.
There is no official figure on the number of illegal immigrants in the UK and estimates vary.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Illegal working cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and means legitimate job seekers are denied employment opportunities.
“That is why we have legislated to make it harder than ever to work here illegally and introduced measures which allow us to remove people with no right to be here more quickly.
“We carry out regular operations to tackle abuse of the system and are determined to take action against employers who flout the law by using illegal labour.
“However, following arrest there may be legitimate reasons why individuals are allowed to stay in the UK.”