London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Home Office 'demonising' illegal immigrants by shutting down bank accounts in new crackdown

Home Office 'demonising' illegal immigrants by shutting down bank accounts in new crackdown

The government has started sharing data with banks and building societies so they can identify illegal immigrants and shut down their bank accounts to prevent them from working in the UK.

Illegal immigrants will have their bank accounts shut down in a new crackdown by the Home Office - who have been accused of "demonising" asylum seekers.

The Home Office announced it began sharing data with the financial sector on Thursday so it can refuse to open new bank accounts and close existing accounts of people who are in the UK illegally.

It said making it difficult for illegal migrants to access financial services is "an important tool to help deter illegal migration" as it prevents them from working illegally or using the benefits system.

Human rights charity Amnesty International UK accused the government of using private companies to impose its "hugely damaging, immigration policy".

Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty's refugee and migrant rights director, told Sky News: "This is one of many ways the government has co-opted private bodies and civil society into its miserable, and often hugely damaging, immigration policy.

"It is part of an exercise in socially excluding and isolating a mass of people regardless of their individual circumstances - including where those culpable for why people are in these circumstances are human traffickers, other abusers and even the Home Office.

"It's clear ministers do not care about who they harm or how because they've sold themselves to whipping up suspicion and even hate by constantly demonising migrants to excuse their woeful mismanagement of the immigration system."

Banks will not be required to check customers' documents for their migration status but the Home Office will share details of illegal migrants and banks can then check their personal current account holders against the list.

Anybody with outstanding immigration applications or appeals will not be affected, the government added.

The initiative is part of the government's push to curb the number of migrants coming to the UK.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: "Access to key banking services, including current accounts, is crucial in aiding those here unlawfully to gain a foothold in British society.

"As the prime minister has set out, we are committed to going further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders.

"Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating honest workers of employment and defrauding the public purse.

"Only those known to be here unlawfully or those who have absconded from immigrational control will have their details shared, with robust safeguards in place to prevent wrongful account closures."

A group of migrants arrived in Dover on Thursday


Banks will only close accounts when the Home Office has made further checks to ensure the person is still in the UK without permission to stay.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak initially announced the plan in December 2022 to re-start data sharing as part of the government's approach to tackling illegal working and immigration.

The government announced on Wednesday it plans to house more than 500 asylum seekers on a barge in Dorset, with the local council and Tory MP considering legal action to stop it from going ahead in the beauty spot.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×