Illegal immigrants worked at border agency
Marie Woolf, Whitehall Editor

ILLEGAL immigrants have worked as guards for a government body responsible for defending Britain’s borders.

Seven security personnel were found to be carrying forged documents, according to disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act.

One has since been arrested, five have resigned and the other is on maternity leave, while her immigration status is investigated. They were working for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which had responsibilities for border security until April.

The news that security issues have been entrusted to illegal immigrants will embarrass the government, which has repeatedly pledged to cut down on illegal working by foreign nationals.

The security staff, employed by a contractor that guarded buildings used by employees of the UK border agency and HMRC, were identified in December last year as carrying documents that were believed to be suspect.

Dominic Grieve, shadow home secretary, said: “This is yet another example of the fantasy world that exists when it comes to border security. It is surreal and deeply ironic that an organisation dedicated to protecting our borders has been employing illegal immigrants.â€