The Union government has asked states to identify and deport illegal immigrants like the Rohingyas as they pose grave security threat to the country, PTI has reported.

The government has said that illegal immigrants can prove to be a security challenge as they are vulnerable to getting recruited by terrorist organisations, adding that they also infringe on the rights of Indian citizens.

"These illegal immigrants not only infringe on the rights of Indian citizens but also pose grave security challenges," a communication sent to all states by the Union Home Ministry on Sunday read.

In the recent past, security agencies have identified the security threat posed by illegal immigrants in the country, such as Rohingyas from Myanmar. In August, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Parliament that more than 14,000 Rohingyas, registered with the UNHCR, are presently staying in India.

"However, some inputs indicate that around 40,000 Rohingyas are staying in India illegally and the Rohingyas are largely located in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan," he had said.

Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, who are living illegally in Jammu and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir , have managed to buy land in these cities by fraudulently obtaining permanent residence certificates, Aadhaar cards, voters identity cards and ration cards, The Tribune had reported in June.