ICE-Style Raids Hit Record High in the UK – but Most Result in No Arrests

Immigration enforcement raids in the UK have reached a record high, but most operations result in no arrests.

The Home Office’s immigration team is carrying out more “enforcement visits” than ever before but while these raids leave traumatised people in their wake, the majority haven’t broken any immigration law, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) has revealed.

Out of 23,500 Home Office raids conducted in 2025 – an average of more than 60 per day – more than 15,500 (66% or two-thirds) didn’t result in an arrest. 

The figures include raids on homes and businesses, and spot checks in public places like streets, train stations and ports.

The TBIJ investigation also found that warrants are being used less frequently, featuring in only a quarter of raids compared to 40% a decade ago. 

Experts said this indicates that the Home Office is carrying out “fishing expeditions” based on “weak evidence and hearsay”. 

Kevin Barker, a former immigration officer, told TBIJ: “You’re not allowed to apply for a search warrant if the intelligence you’ve got is old or an anonymous allegation that can’t be corroborated… but it doesn’t stop them from doing the visit.”

Anyone can send an anonymous tip-off, and last year, 80% of tip-offs came from members of the public – compared to less than 4% from both the police and immigration authorities.

In January, home secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Labour government had “surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide”. 

But Concepta Cassar, head of policy at Migrant Rights Network, said the government’s objective is to show it has control over an “invented political problem” where migrants are scapegoated for government policy failings. 

“Thousands upon thousands of lives are impacted,” Cassar said, adding that some businesses are repeatedly targeted despite nobody having been found to be breaking the law. 

“People don’t realise that we have ICE. They’re like ‘ICE is coming to the UK’. No, it’s here,” Cassar said. “They’re not a militarised force yet but we have the same need for community defence and the need to look out for each other.”

Green party deputy Mothin Ali warned that “people are being humiliated and whole communities terrorised”, adding: “This is racist harassment dressed up as immigration enforcement.”

The Home Office said enforcement visits were “based on robust intelligence and risk assessments, compliant with policy”.