People caught working illegally in England and Wales will face up to six months in prison under tough new proposals drawn up in the wake of the Calais border crisis.
The measures form part of the Government's Immigration Bill due out later this year, and will include powers to shut down business that employ illegal workers
Takeaway shops and alcohol stores found employing foreigners could have their licences to sell food and alcohol revoked and authorities will also have the power to seize migrants' wages as the "proceeds of crime".
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Ministers hope the decision to imprison illegal migrants instead of holding them in detention centres will act as a deterrent to those hoping to cross the Channel into Britain.
It comes after the Government announced that landlords in England will be expected to evict illegal tenants or face up to five years in jail themselves
"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," said immigration minister James Brokenshire.
He said getting tough on rogue employers, punishing illegal migrants and strengthening the country's borders is "in the best interests of the British people and those who play by the rules".
The decision to jail illegal migrants represents "a major shift" in government policy and shows the level of concern in Downing Street about the numbers coming to the UK, the Daily Telegraph says.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror says ministers "are desperate" to be seen to be getting tough on illegal immigration ahead of the release of the official statistics on immigration due out on Thursday.
The figures are expected to show that net migration is still much higher than the Tory target of tens of thousands.
But charities and migrants' rights campaigners have criticised the decision and described the overall crackdown on illegal migrants as "hostile" to people fleeing war and persecution.
"Leaving migrants in difficult conditions in prisons, fencing up Calais, and reducing rescue operations in the Mediterranean is part of the long-term plan to focus the public's attention on the Government's outright rejection of migrants and refugees while also taking the sting out of the net figures debate," said Migrants Rights Network last week.
