Issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India

Source: The post issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India has been created, based on the article “Express view on illegal immigration in India: Loose political rhetoric won’t solve the problem” published in “Indian Express” on 4th January 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- International Relations-India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Context: The article discusses the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India. It highlights political rhetoric, lack of reliable data, and procedural gaps in verifying identities. It emphasizes the need for robust policies and fairness, avoiding political exploitation of vulnerable people. Issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India

For detailed information on Centre issues alert on illegal stay of Bangladeshi nationals read this article here

What actions have been taken regarding illegal immigrants?

1. Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, claimed that the Border Security Force is allowing illegal entries through places like Islampur and Cooch Behar. She made these comments during an administrative meeting on January 3.
2. In Delhi, after several arrests, the arrested individuals were deported to Bangladesh by the Delhi Police with the help of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.
3. Additionally, a circular from the AAP government, dated December 23, 2024, instructed schools to check the admission of children from illegal Bangladeshi families.

What does the central government say about illegal immigration?

1. In December 2023, the central government admitted to the Supreme Court that it cannot provide exact numbers of illegal immigrants, describing the situation as “grim.”
2. Furthermore, a response to an RTI request in November 2024 revealed that there is no centralized data on illegal Bangladeshi nationals or their activities in India.

What are the legal frameworks and challenges?

1. India has several laws to manage foreign nationals, including the Foreigners Act (1946), Registration of Foreigners Act (1939), Passport (Entry into India) Act (1920), and Citizenship Act (1955).
2. However, these laws face procedural issues, particularly in identity verification, often placing the burden on individuals to prove their citizenship, similar to procedures in Assam.

How effective has deportation been?

According to Kiren Rijiju, the former Minister of State for Home Affairs, in a 2018 statement, deportations have drastically reduced from 5,234 in 2013 to only 51 in 2017. This decrease raises questions about whether the issue is being effectively managed or if deportation has become more challenging.

Conclusion:

The issue of illegal immigration in India is often politicized and lacks a clear, data-driven approach. It calls for more serious and thoughtful handling of the issue to protect vulnerable groups from political and social exploitation.

Question for practice:

Discuss the challenges and actions taken by various stakeholders in addressing the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India.