AN ILLEGAL immigrant working at a Leamington Chinese restaurant has been arrested following a raid by border agency officers – potentially leading to a hefty fine for the eatery.
The 20 year-old Chinese woman was detained after enforcement officers visited Ruby in Park Street earlier this month to check staff working there had the right to live and work in the UK. They found the woman had entered the country illegally.
Carol Scarr, of the West Midlands Immigration Enforcement team, said: “Our well-resourced teams are always working to tackle abuse of the UK’s immigration system. Businesses are expected to comply with the law and ensure their employees have the right to work in the UK by carrying out the correct checks. Those who do not do so should expect a visit and a heavy financial penalty.
“Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities. It also exploits some of society’s most vulnerable people.
“All of our operations are intelligence led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us.”
Ruby was served a notice warning of a financial penalty of up to £20,000 if they could not demonstrate appropriate right to work checks had been carried out.
The woman has been detained pending deportation from the UK.
