Indian migrant first in UK charged over online illegal immigration ads

LONDON: An Indian migrant has become the first person in the UK to be charged under a new law aimed at tackling illegal immigration.Hem Raj (24), an Indian national who lives in Smethwick, in the West Midlands, has been charged with creating online material promoting unlawful immigration to Britain, a new offence under Section 17 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.Section 17 came into force on Feb 2, 2026, introducing an offence that criminalises the creation or publication of material whose purpose is to promote unlawful immigration services on an internet service. The maximum sentence is five years in prison, a fine, or both.Raj is accused of publishing social media posts offering advice to foreign nationals on fraudulent visa and asylum applications.