Two immigration offenders from Vietnam were caught during a Home Office Immigration Enforcement operation in Wilmslow.
Officers visited American Nail Studio on Water Lane last month, acting on intelligence that individuals with no right to be in the UK were working at the business.
Background checks on staff members revealed two women working illegally. The pair, aged 26 and 43, had entered the country without leave to do so and were arrested. They were later released on immigration bail while their cases are progressed and will have to report regularly to the Home Office during this time.
The business has been was served with a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker arrested will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out, such as seeing a Home Office document or passport. This is a potential total penalty of up to £40,000.
Assistant Director Karen McDonough, North West Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: "These arrests are a clear warning to those anyone in Cheshire abusing our immigration laws. There will be no slowdown in our efforts to arrest, detain and remove you from the UK.
"Employers who choose to use illegal labour are defrauding the taxpayer, undercutting honest businesses genuine employers and denying legitimate job hunters work.
"We are happy to work with employers who want to play by the rules. but t Those continue choosing to flout the rules will face heavy financial penalties.
"I would urge anyone with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch."
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