Seventeen offenders have been arrested in Luton this month.
In the most recent operation, officers from the Local Immigration Team for Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire (West) visited a residential address in Millfield Road on Monday shortly before 7am.
Checks revealed that seven Pakistani men inside the property had all overstayed their visit visas.
Four of the men – aged 58, 52, 46 and 39 - have been taken into UK Border Agency detention. Three – aged 69, 59 and 46 – have been granted immigration bail.
On February 13, officers visited two residential addresses and made six arrests.
An Afghan man, aged 20, living in Hazelbury Crescent was identified as a failed asylum seeker. He was arrested at 6.25am and detained.
At 8.25am officers raided an address in Newark Road, where five Pakistani men were arrested. All had overstayed their visas.
Three of the men – aged 45, 44, and 27 – were detained. Two – aged 71 and 44 – were released on immigration bail.
On February 7, officers raided Smokers Paradise in George Street and arrested two illegals. The men, both from India, were detained.
One, aged 21, had made a fraudulent application to extend his student visa and was removed from the UK on Saturday (February 18).
The other, aged 20, had entered the UK illegally and remains in UK Border Agency detention pending his removal from the country.
Smokers Paradise faces a fine of up to £20,000 - £10,000 per illegal worker – unless it can prove that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out.
And on 5 February, officers arrested two immigration offenders at separate private addresses.
At Crawley Road, a 23-year-old Pakistani man who had entered the UK illegally was arrested. He was removed from the country on February 14.
At Union Street, a 26-year-old Indian man who had overstayed his visa was arrested. He was returned to India on February 13.
UK Border Agency officer Melanie Partridge said: “We carry out regular raids in Luton – these were particularly productive.
“Three of the arrested men have already been removed from the UK and we are working towards the same goal for the remainder.
“Illegal immigration puts pressure on the public purse at a time when the country can least afford it.
“The UK Border Agency is working hard to tackle illegal working and apprehend immigration offenders and these arrests are just part of an ongoing crackdown.
“We urge members of the public to get in touch with us if they have any information about suspected illegal immigrants or companies that are employing illegal workers.”
Anyone who has information on suspected immigration offenders can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/ or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
