Data on Illegal Migration Hard to Collect, 14,346 Foreign Nationals Deported: Union Home Ministry

The Union Home Ministry informed the Supreme Court that obtaining accurate data on illegal migration into India is challenging due to the secretive nature of such activities. Responding to the court's order, the ministry's affidavit revealed that 14,346 foreign nationals were deported between 2017 and 2022, with 17,861 migrants entering Assam between January 1966 and March 1971 granted Indian citizenship. The affidavit stated that illegal migration occurs "in a clandestine and surreptitious manner," making data collection difficult.

The court sought details on immigrants granted Indian citizenship under Section 6A(2) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, focusing on those entering between January 1966 and March 1971. The ministry's response also highlighted that 32,381 individuals were declared foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals in the same period. The affidavit disclosed a release of ₹122 crores by the central government for the functioning of these tribunals in the last five years.

The court's inquiry includes aspects such as the estimated inflow of illegal migrants, the status of cases pending before the Guwahati High Court, and administrative steps taken to address illegal immigration in the northeastern States. The case involves challenges to the constitutionality of Section 6A concerning the grant of citizenship to immigrants under the Assam accord, impacting the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list. As of December 1, 81.5% of fencing along the Assam-Bangladesh border's feasible areas is complete, according to the affidavit.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT UNIVERSITY