The China City Chinese take-away where Chinese immigrants had been working illegally
CONCERNS have been raised over the issue of immigrants working illegally, following a raid by Home Office immigration officers on two Enniskillen premises.
Six Chinese nationals working in Enniskillen have been arrested and were taken into custody, to be deported back to their home country.
This week, Councillor Raymond Farrell was concerned that this ‘practice is still going on’, and questioned what impact illegal immigrants could have on locals looking for work.
Close to four percent of the county’s population were detailed as from outside of the UK and Ireland according the 2011 census.
Cllr Farrell said: “People who come in internationally come with a range of skills that they can offer but it has to be done in a proper fashion, both to protect the immigrant and to protect the local community and people who are looking for jobs but aren’t getting them because of immigrants working by illegal means.”
Late last week, Home Office immigration enforcement officers arrested six Chinese nationals, working in Enniskillen.
Three Chinese men, aged 25, 34 and 47, as well as a 34-year-old Chinese woman were arrested from the Hong Kong takeaway on Belmore Street, after it was discovered that they were working illegally.
Also on Thursday evening, two Chinese men, aged 27 and 43 were arrested for working illegally, from the China City takeaway on Forthill Street.
The businesses have each been served with a penalty notice for employing the illegal workers.
They were taken to held in Home Office detention in Larne, Co Antrim, where steps are taken to remove them to their home countries.
Mike Golden of the UK Border Agency, said: “Foreign nationals who are in this country illegally should be in no doubt that they will be found, arrested and removed from the UK.
“We are determined to crack down on immigration offenders and anyone found living or working here illegally is liable to be detained and removed.”
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