Britain has deported 13,500 illegal immigrants, the highest number in recent years

Since taking office in July, the Labour government has removed 13,500 people who were in Britain illegally, the highest number since 2018.

"Since the general election, we have stepped up our fight against exploitation and illegal working, with an increase in enforcement actions and arrests," Home Affairs Minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement on Sunday, Bloomberg reported.

Authorities have organized 33 charter flights to repatriate illegal immigrants and have found some through raids.

The government has also announced around £8 million in new technology, including body cameras and biometric devices, to support the work.

Immigration was one of the key issues in Britain's general election in July, with former Prime Minister Sunak's failure to control the number of migrants contributing to the Conservative Party's defeat to Starmer's Labour Party and a surge in support for the anti-immigration Reform Party.

Earlier this year, the ongoing phenomenon of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats sparked far-right riots and attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers.