Immigrants arrested in raids on businesses

The enforcement operation was carried out as part of a nationwide summer campaign to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.

Three Rotherham businesses were targeted in an "intelligence-led operation" that saw specially trained officers question staff to ensure they had the right to work in the UK.

Two Iraqis and an Afghan were arrested for a variety of immigration offences. One had entered the UK illegally and two were failed asylum seekers.

All three remain in detention while the UK Border Agency makes arrangements for their planned removal.

In addition, officers from the UK Border Agency found two other immigration offenders at these businesses, both Iranian nationals, who had no right to work in the UK.

Both are on regular report to the UK Border Agency and were instructed to leave the premises.

The owners of the businesses have been issued with a warning that they could now be fined up to 50,000 for employing the five men – up to 10,000 per illegal worker – unless they can prove they carried out the correct checks on their employees.

Damian Green, the Immigration Minister, said: "The Government has tasked the UK Border Agency with carrying out an intense period of enforcement activity over the summer."

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit www.ukba.homeoffice. gov.uk/employers or they can call the UK Border Agency's Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699. Anyone who has suspicions about illegal workers should call 0800 555 111.