News Update – 16 January 2026
This week unfolded with UK immigration reaching a critical turning point, as the Home Office intensifies its crackdown on illegal working, while simultaneously implementing the most restrictive elements of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025. This landmark legislation, which received Royal Assent in December, has fundamentally reshaped employer compliance by extending mandatory right to work checks to the gig economy and non-standard work arrangements. Businesses in the hospitality, construction, and personal care sectors must now navigate a high-risk environment were failing to verify the immigration status of agency workers or subcontractors can lead to severe civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker and potential criminal liability.
The scale of recent immigration enforcement activity is unprecedented, with over 17,400 workplace raids recorded between July 2024 and the end of December 2025. This 77 per cent surge in operations has resulted in more than 12,300 arrests and a significant rise in deportations, the highest levels since the current recording system began in 2019. Regional data highlights a sharp increase in enforcement across the UK, with Wales experiencing a 103 per cent rise in raids, while London remains a primary focus for Home Office compliance teams. This escalation is supported by a five-million-pound funding boost and a targeted social media campaign designed to deter illegal migration and disrupt the “black economy.”
On the borders, international tensions have risen as French authorities issued entry bans for several British activists following reported harassment of asylum seekers near Dunkirk. These developments coincide with a widening gap between public perception and official net migration statistics. Despite recent ONS figures showing that net migration has fallen by more than two-thirds to 204,000, down from a record peak of 944,000, a majority of the British public remains sceptical of the government’s border control efficacy. Small boat crossings continue to dominate political discourse and public concern, even though they represent less than five per cent of total UK arrivals.
For legal advisors and HR professionals, the immediate priority is addressing the administrative burden of the new “Earned Settlement” proposals and the higher English language requirements (B2 level) introduced on 8th January 2026. The 36% drop in Skilled Worker visa applications and the 51 per cent collapse in Health and Care worker applications reflect the compounding impact of restrictive immigration rules on the UK labour market. As the Home Office signals further expansion of workplace visits and civil penalties, businesses must urgently audit their labor supply chains to ensure they meet the rigorous standards of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.
The Home Office is significantly tightening the criteria for family life applications, introducing more rigorous standards for those seeking entry or leave to remain. A pivotal change is the shift toward the higher-Level English language requirement effective from 8th January 2026, which impacts the transition to settlement and specific visa categories by raising the expected proficiency to CEFR Level B2. Furthermore, the introduction of the Part Suitability framework has replaced the previous general grounds for refusal, creating a much narrower path for cases involving exceptional circumstances or Article 8 ECHR claims.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, see HERE
News
Immigration Enforcement raids reach highest level in history – UKVI News
Record number of arrests and raids of illegal workers, 1,320 raids in Wales lead to 649 arrests, Dodgy businesses including car washes, nail bars and barber shops targeted alongside sweeping reforms announced by the Home Secretary to cut illegal migration. Illegal working arrests and raids have reached the highest level in British history thanks to relentless activity by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement teams. For full report, click here
France announces ban on 10 British anti-migrant activists – The Guardian
France’s interior ministry has announced a ban on 10 British anti-migrant activists who travelled to the country. Officials said they took action after reports that members of the Raise the Colours movement had conducted anti-migrant activities in France. For full report, click here
Palestinian citizen of Israel wins UK asylum over ‘well-founded fear of persecution – The Guardian
A Palestinian citizen of Israel has been granted asylum in the UK because of a “well-founded fear of persecution” despite a former home secretary’s attempt to block the claim. An individual is believed to be the first Palestinian with an Israeli passport to be given refugee status in the UK. But the decision came only after two about-turns by the Home Office and a protracted legal battle. For full report, click here
Home Office TikTok account posting deportation footage accused of turning ‘brutality into clickbait’ – The Guardian
A Home Office TikTok account posting footage of deportations and arrests set to dramatic music has been criticised for turning “brutality” into “clickbait”. An account called @SecureBordersUK was created on Tuesday with the slogan: “Restoring order and control to our borders.” For full report, click here
Two-thirds of UK voters wrongly think immigration is rising, poll finds – The Guardian
A large majority of UK voters believe immigration is increasing despite sharp falls in the number of people entering the UK, according to exclusive polling shared with the Guardian. Voters also say they have no confidence in the Government’s ability to control the UK’s borders, according to the poll by More in Common. The results will come as a blow to Keir Starmer’s administration, which has taken an increasingly hardline stance on immigration in recent months. For full report, click here
Home Office tells Gaza academic his bid to bring family to UK not urgent – The Guardian
A Palestinian academic has failed in his latest attempt to be reunited with his family in the UK after the Home Office concluded their case was not urgent and it was more appropriate for his two children to remain with their mother in a tent in Gaza. For full report, click here
Case Law
ABW, R (on the application of) v Secretary Of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 3280
The High Court ruled the Home Secretary’s public order disqualification system for trafficking victims is unlawful. She must make conclusive grounds decisions (which she had been refusing), and cannot automatically presume all qualifying cases pose high threat without individual assessment. The claimant was retrafficked weeks after losing support, demonstrating the system’s failures. For full decision, click here
Majera v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 1597
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a deportation appeal despite strong evidence of rehabilitation, reinforcing that rehabilitation carries minimal weight under the ‘very compelling circumstances’ test in s117C(6) NIAA 2002. This decision emphasises that tribunals allowing such appeals must provide detailed reasoning explaining any departure from the established principle in HA (Iraq) that rehabilitation is ordinarily given little weight in deportation cases involving serious offenders. For full decision, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 15th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 15th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Deprivation of British citizenship: caseworker has been updated on 15th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Windrush Compensation Scheme: claim forms has been updated on 15th January 2026. To view the updated Form, click here
Guidance: Windrush Compensation Scheme: full rules has been updated on 15th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Windrush Compensation Scheme: caseworker has been updated on 15th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Borders, immigration and citizenship: privacy information notice has been updated on 14th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Work: customer service standards has been updated on 14th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Document checks and charges for carriers has been updated on 14th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Correspondence: Updates on the move to eVisas has been updated on 12th January 2026. To view the updated Correspondence, click here
Collection: Other cross-cutting guidance (immigration staff guidance) has been updated on 12th January 2026. To view the updated Collection, click here
Guidance: Immigration Rules archive: 1 January 2026 to 7 January 2026 has been updated on 09th January 2026. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Become a British citizen by naturalisation (form AN) has been updated on 09th January 2026. To view the updated Form, click here
Form: Register child under 18 as British citizen (form MN1) has been updated on 09th January 2026. To view the updated Form, click here
Form: Apply by post for British citizenship as a person of Chagossian descent (form BIOT) has been update on 09th January 2026. To view the updated Form, click here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
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Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration advisors should consult the full decisions and official policy documents when advising clients on specific cases.