The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set a 30-day limit for states and Union Territories (UT) to verify the identities of individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar who claim to be Indian citizens. Indian Express reported that if their documentation is not confirmed by the end of this month, they will face deportation.
This decision follows the MHA’s recent guidelines instructing states and UTs to use their legal authority to find, identify, and remove illegal immigrants. Additionally, they were directed to build enough district-level detention facilities for housing individuals awaiting deportation.
Several states, including Rajasthan and Gujarat, have started such operations. This week, Rajasthan police gathered and sent the first group of 148 suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to West Bengal on a designated flight, from where they will ultimately be sent back to their country.
Previously, verifying the status of illegal immigrants could take months without a set deadline. The officer stated, “But now, the Centre has asked states/UTs and district collectors/district magistrates to ensure that a proper credential report is sent to the deporting state/UT within a period of 30 days.”
According to the new guidelines, “The suspected person should stay in holding centers for 30 days, and if no report is received within that time, the Foreigners Registration Offices should deport them.”
The Centre has instructed all state governments and UT administrations to form a special task force in each district, led by the police, to detect, identify, and deport illegal immigrants. They have also been told to create enough holding centers in each district to detain illegal immigrants.
