BORDER and immigration minister Phil Woolas was briefed on marriage scams, people trafficking and fake citizenship ceremonies during his visit to Yorkshire yesterday.
Mr Woolas visited Leeds to meet the joint UK Border Agency and police team.
The unit works closely with other Government departments and local councils and has made a number of busts around Huddersfield in the last year.
Last month three Indian workers from Yorkshire Fur Fabrics at Queen Street South were arrested on suspicion of being in the UK illegally.
And last year the agency arrested illegal immigrants at takeaways in Shepley and Dewsbury and busted a fake wedding racket in Cleckheaton.
Mr Woolas said: “I’m here to see first-hand the excellent work that the joint UK Border Agency and police team are doing to tackle serious and organised immigration crime across the region.
“I also want to reach out to both the public and our partners to hear and discuss their issues around immigration.
“Our Immigration Crime Teams are creating a hostile environment for criminals involved in this sort of activity – be they British or foreign nationals – and are sending a message that there is no place to hide; we will catch you.”
