Banks’ bid to weed out illegal migrants

BANKS and building societies are checking the immigration status of account holders in a bid to weed out illegal migrants.

Checks will be made against the details of known cheats which the Home Office is sharing with the fraud prevention service Cifas.

Accounts operated by someone without the right to remain will be checked by immigration officials and may be closed.

Where criminality is suspected, the Home Office can apply for a court order to freeze an individual’s assets.

Immigration minister Caroline Nokes said: “These new measures are part of our commitment to make it more difficult for people with no right to live or work in the UK to remain here.

“This will not affect those who are in the UK legally, but we must be firm with those who break the rules as illegal immigration impacts the whole of society.

“Those living and working here illegally can drive down the wages of lawful workers, allow rogue employers to undercut legitimate businesses and put pressure on public services.”

An estimated 1.1 million people living in the UK have no right to be here.