Turning a blind eye to illegal immigration no more!

Raju Korti
On February 14 last, I had stated soon after President Trump signed an executive order cracking down on illegal immigrants: "By cracking down on illegal immigrants, President Trump has unwittingly thrown a juicy full toss at the Indian Government. I have a gut feeling that by agreeing to take back deported Indians, Modi and S. Jaishankar might use it as a righteous step to justify a parallel purge of illegal immigrants within India, repackaging it as a necessary step for national security and demographic balance."

I do not consider these words prophetic. This was no crystal-ball moment, nor a claim to prescience. But I was absolutely right. Within a month, India drafted the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 -- a sweeping legislation governing all matters related to immigration. It mandates stricter oversight of foreigners through compulsory reporting by hotels, universities, hospitals, and other institutions, with harsh penalties for overstaying and fraudulent documentation.

Though the bill does not explicitly name Bangladesh, its primary focus is unmistakable. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi migrants, directing states and union territories to conduct “umbrella investigations” into those aiding them in securing Aadhaar cards and citizenship-related documents. The MHA's data reveals that between January 2024 and January 2025, 2,601 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Security forces have responded with advanced surveillance, night vision technology, and expanded manpower.

To no one’s surprise, Aadhaar cards have emerged as a key enabler of illegal migration. Many of these fraudulent identities were allegedly used to gain access to European and Middle Eastern countries. Officials have now launched a massive re-verification drive, instructing Aadhaar centers to flag suspicious applications. The “Dunky” route is universal with difference in degrees of the rigours faced in crossing borders.

The crackdown is evident in enforcement actions. Delhi Police recently arrested over 20 Bangladeshi nationals for illegal residency, while border forces have ramped up cooperation with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) under the 2011 Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP). Meanwhile, detention centers are seeing an uptick in occupants, awaiting deportation under Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) protocols.

This is a classic case of how Prime Minister Modi transforms both threats and opportunities into political leverage. With illegal immigration a global security priority, India’s move is not likely to face much opposition. The bill is self-righteous in tone, but it aligns with the international playbook -- securing borders, monitoring migration, and tightening legal loopholes.

One thing is certain: India is no longer turning a blind eye to illegal immigration. Or ostensibly so!