Nine illegal immigrants from India and China have been caught living or working in the east Midlands town Leicester, which has a large minority of Indian origin.
The seven men and two women were discovered during raids on city companies by officials from the UK Border and Immigration Agency. All now face deportation.
Officials raided a fish bar and discovered three Indian men who had entered UK illegally. A fourth Indian national who had entered the country illegally, was found to be renting a room above the premises.
Five Chinese nationals were detained at a restaurant in the Leicester city centre. Four were identified as failed asylum seekers, while a 29-year-old woman was found to have entered the country illegally.
Both companies now face fines of up to 10,000 pounds for every illegal worker found on their books.