Assam – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a stringent new policy regarding the deportation of undocumented Assam Illegal Foreigners, declaring that the state will push back those declared as illegal foreigners within seven days of a foreigners’ tribunal order. This announcement came during a press conference on New Year’s Day, where the chief minister also revealed significant progress in the state’s efforts to address unauthorized immigration.
2,000 Deportations Completed in Recent Months
The Assam government has successfully identified and pushed back approximately 2,000 foreign nationals across the international border with Bangladesh in recent months. This action has been carried out under provisions of the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act (IEAA), 1950, a legal framework that empowers district authorities to evacuate individuals found to be undocumented immigrants.
“In the past few months, we have pushed back nearly 2,000 (illegal) foreigners through the (international) border. This would definitely result in reduction of entry of foreigners illegally into Assam,” Sarma stated during his address to media persons.
The chief minister’s announcement regarding Assam illegal foreigners demonstrates the state government’s commitment to addressing what it considers a persistent challenge to the demographic and cultural integrity of the region.
New Seven-Day Deportation Timeline
The most significant aspect of the new policy on Assam illegal foreigners is the expedited timeline for deportation following tribunal decisions. Once a person is declared an ‘illegal foreigner’ by a foreigners’ tribunal, the state machinery will initiate the pushback process within one week.
“We have taken a decision that those declared foreigners by FT would be pushed back within seven days so that the process (of sending them back) don’t delayed with them appealing against the order in high court and Supreme Court,” Sarma explained.
This swift action timeline represents a marked departure from previous procedures, where the deportation process could be significantly delayed through appeals in higher courts. The new approach aims to create a more efficient system for handling cases involving Assam illegal foreigners.
Legal Framework and Supreme Court Support
The chief minister emphasized that a “no-compromising attitude” in dealing with Assam illegal foreigners was lacking in the past. However, with the Supreme Court seeking expulsion of unauthorized immigrants and upholding the IEAA, 1950, the state government has made pushback of undocumented individuals an official government policy.
In October 2024, a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court upheld the validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which grants Indian citizenship to those who entered Assam from Bangladesh prior to March 24, 1971. The bench also held that Section 6A read with the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, was “sufficient to address the issue of illegal immigration into Assam.”
Under IEAA, district authorities in Assam receive empowerment from the central government to evacuate any person found to be an unauthorized immigrant.
Foreigners’ Tribunals System
Foreigners’ tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies exclusive to Assam that adjudicate whether a person suspected of being an unauthorized immigrant is Indian or not. Currently, 100 such tribunals operate in the state, playing a crucial role in the identification process of Assam illegal foreigners.
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The border wing of Assam Police is entrusted with detecting and deporting unauthorized immigrants who entered the state and preventing infiltrations. They also forward cases of people suspected of being undocumented to the foreigners’ tribunals, which determine a person’s nationality based on documentation.
Election-Related Announcements
With assembly elections scheduled for March-April 2026, Sarma made several significant announcements regarding welfare schemes. The flagship Orunodoi scheme, which provides ₹1,250 monthly to vulnerable women in approximately 3.8 million households, will see a modified payout structure.
To avoid controversy near elections, beneficiaries will receive a lumpsum payment of ₹8,000 on February 20 as a gift for the coming Bohag Bihu (Assamese new year). This amount covers January through April, with an additional ₹3,000 added as a festival gift. Regular monthly payments will resume in May after elections conclude.
Additionally, seven million ration card users who currently receive 1kg each of lentil, sugar, and salt monthly at ₹117 will now get these items at ₹100.
Focus on Identity and Development
Addressing the upcoming elections, Sarma outlined the government’s dual focus on protecting indigenous identity while promoting development. The policy on Assam illegal foreigners fits within this broader framework of identity preservation.
“Our politics will hinge on both on the question of preserving our identity as well as rapid development of the state. We don’t see development in isolation. If a state can’t protect its identity mere development won’t suffice,” the chief minister stated.
He emphasized that the government would continue evicting unauthorized encroachers from government lands and securing land rights for indigenous people while focusing on infrastructure development and investments to create employment opportunities.
The chief minister expressed confidence that these measures would bring marked change to the issue of Assam illegal foreigners, signaling the government’s determination to maintain what it views as demographic and cultural balance in the state.
