Four face deportation after Black Country immigration raids
Four people have been arrested following a series of immigration raids across the Black Country.
Businesses were targeted in Dudley and Sandwell as part of an intelligence-led operation by immigration officials.
A 33-year-old Indian man was arrested at Gurry Barber Shop on High Street, Smethwick, after checks showed he had overstayed his visa.
A Malaysian woman, aged 21, was then arrested at Rising, a takeaway on Dingle Road, Kingswinford, as well as a 36-year-old Bangladeshi man at Dilshad International, Halesowen Road, Halesowen, for the same reason.
Officers later seized an amount of cash from the man arrested in Halesowen under the Proceeds of Crime Act as it was suspected to be the proceeds of illegal working.
Officials said an application would be made to the courts to request forfeiture of the money, which if successful will see the cash transferred to the public purse.
A final raid was carried out at Galley Grill on High Street, Lye, where a 39-year-old Bangladeshi man was arrested as checks showed was a failed asylum seeker.
The four were all detained and are now facing deportation from the UK.
Each of the businesses raided were served with a civil penalty referral notice warning they could face fines of up to £20,000 unless they can prove appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out.
Assistant director Carol Scarr, head of the West Midlands Immigration Enforcement team, said: “These successful operations are an excellent example of the work of my teams, who cover the whole of the West Midlands.
"My officers specialise in identifying abuse of the immigration rules, including businesses who employ staff with no right to work.
“Illegal working is not victimless, it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the public purse.
“I urge anyone with specific and detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”
