IMMIGRATION Enforcement officers have used immigration powers to close down an award-winning Newcastle Emlyn restaurant with a history of employing illegal workers.

Acting on intelligence, Immigration Enforcement officers visited Yasmin’s at Sycamore Street yesterday (Thursday, September 21) at 7pm and carried out immigration checks.

An Immigration Enforcement statement said two men from Bangladesh, both aged 37, who had overstayed their visas, were arrested. They have been detained while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.

A further two men from Bangladesh, a 45-year-old who has an outstanding immigration application which does not entitle him to work, and a 42-year-old who has no permission to work must now report regularly to Immigration Enforcement while their cases are progressed.

Previous visits to Yasmin’s, conducted in August 2013 and January and October 2014, found a total of five illegal workers.

Immigration officials said that since 2012, civil penalties totalling £88,750 have been imposed on the business, of which more than £72,000 remains unpaid. This is now being actively pursued by the Home Office.

Given Yasmin’s history of non-compliance, officers have been able to temporarily close the business using immigration powers which form part of the Immigration Act 2016.

Under these powers, businesses found to be employing illegal workers and with a history of doing so can be closed for up to 48 hours during which time an application is made to the court for a compliance order.

A compliance order has been granted by Swansea Magistrates Court to keep the business closed until 4pm Monday, September 25 in order for the owner to provide correct documentation for any staff that are employees.

If this is not done by Monday then an extension will be applied for at the court on Monday requesting that the business remain closed until the correct documentation is provided.

Yasmin’s was served a referral notice in relation to the illegal workers found on Thursday. The notice warns that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

If proof is not provided, this is potential total of up to £40,000.

Richard Johnson, from Immigration Enforcement in Wales, said: “Businesses that persistently employ illegal workers must face the consequences.

“These immigration powers give us an opportunity to further crack down on those offenders where civil penalties have been issued and not paid.”

The Tivy-Side has been unable to contact the owner of the business.

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.