The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to verify the credentials of suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar within 30 days. If verification is not completed within this period, the individuals will be subject to deportation, as per new guidelines issued by the ministry.
This move is part of the centre’s renewed efforts to streamline the identification and deportation process of undocumented immigrants as part of tightening national security. The MHA has asked states and UTs to use their statutory powers to detect, identify, and deport illegal immigrants. Authorities have also been instructed to establish adequate district-level detention centers to house individuals awaiting deportation.
The instructions have been shared with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Rifles, the forces responsible for guarding India’s borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, to aid in the implementation of this policy.
In response to the directive, several states have already taken action. Rajasthan Police recently gathered 148 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and transported them to West Bengal via a special flight for eventual repatriation. Gujarat authorities have conducted operations in cities like Surat and Ahmedabad, detaining about 6,500 suspected illegal immigrants.
According to the reports, centre reviewed and updated the deportation process earlier this month to make it more efficient. Previously, credential verification could take months due to the absence of a strict timeline. Now, the verifying authorities must submit a report within 30 days. If no response is received, the Foreigners Registration Office is to proceed with deportation measures.
The centre has also asked all state governments and UT administrations to form special task forces in every district under police supervision. These task forces will be responsible for detecting, identifying, and deporting illegal immigrants. Furthermore, the MHA has stressed the need to establish sufficient holding centers in each district to accommodate detainees until their deportation is completed.
These directives underscore the government’s ongoing efforts to address the issue of illegal immigration, especially from Bangladesh and Myanmar, and to ensure national security by enforcing timely and effective deportation procedures.
These efforts gain significance in light of the Supreme Court’s recent observation that India is not a ‘dharamshala’ for foreign nationals, as it rejected a Sri Lankan Tamil’s plea for refugee status, underscoring a stricter national stance on illegal immigration and refugee claims. The Supreme Court’s remarks reflect growing judicial and governmental alignment on the issue. With concerns over national security and population pressure, both institutions appear to be reinforcing the message that India cannot accommodate foreign nationals who enter or remain without legal sanction.
