Home Ministry Streamlines Deportation Process For Illegal Immigrants From Bangladesh, Myanmar; Sets 30-Day Deadline

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has imposed a 30-day limit for states and Union Territories (UT) to authenticate the identities of individuals suspected to be unlawful immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar asserting to be Indian citizens. Indian Express reported that following this one-month timeframe if their paperwork is not confirmed, they will be subject to deportation.

The move comes after earlier this month, the MHA issued guidelines directing states and UTs to utilise their legal authority to locate, identify, and expel illegal immigrants. Furthermore, they were instructed to create adequate district-level detention facilities to accommodate individuals awaiting deportation.

Several states like Rajasthan and Gujarat initiated such drives. In a special operation, Rajasthan police assembled and sent the first group of 148 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to West Bengal this week on a designated flight, from where they will be eventually repatriated to their homeland.

Notably, without a fixed deadline, the verification of illegal immigrants would used to take even months earlier. "But now, the Centre has asked states/UTs and district collectors/district magistrates to ensure that an appropriate credential report is sent to the deporting state/UT within a period of 30 days," the officer said.

"The suspected person, for 30 days, should be kept in the holding centres, and if no report is received within that period, the Foreigners Registration Offices should deport them," states the new guidelines as per the officer.

"The Centre has now asked all state governments and UT administrations to set up a special task force in each district, under the police, to detect, identify, and deport illegal immigrants. They have also been asked to establish adequate holding centres in each district to detain illegal immigrants," another officer said.