Migrants to the UK who work illegally could be jailed and see their salaries seized under government plans to reform immigration.
Businesses found to employ illegal workers can be closed for up to 48 hours under the proposals, which will form part of the government’s planned Immigration Bill, while pubs and late-night takeaways could be stripped of their operating licences entirely.
The bill will also create an offence of illegal working, which will allow wages to be seized as proceeds of crime.
Anyone prosecuted under this new law will face a sentence of up to six months. The offence also faces an unlimited fine in England and Wales.
Minicab drivers and operators will also be covered by the law.
“If you are here illegally, we will take action to stop you from working, renting a flat, opening a bank account or driving a car,” said James Brokenshire, the immigration minister.
“We will continue to crack down on abuse and build an immigration system that works in the best interests of the British people and those who play by the rules. Using illegal labour exploits workers, denies work to UK citizens and legal migrants and drives down wages.
“‘Anyone who thinks the UK is a soft touch should be in no doubt – if you are here illegally, we will take action to stop you from working, renting a flat, opening a bank account or driving a car.”
Any illegal migrant would be moved to a detention centre awaiting deportation after serving their jail term, with the government hoping that the prospect of a spell behind bars beforehand will prove to be even more of a deterrent.
The move was welcomed by Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tighter immigration restrictions.
“More important is for the message to go out that if you are here illegally and caught working, you and your employer will end up in court,” he said.
“Let us hope that the authorities will not shy away from acting on the powers they are to be given, since their record on that front has not always been exemplary.”
But it was criticised by UKIP, the political party which supports Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.
Its migration spokesman Steven Woolfe said: “Sending illegally working immigrants to jail will cost a fortune and put huge pressure on the prison system. Instead the government should deport them.”
The proposals come as it becomes mandatory for landlords to check whether their tenants are here legally.
