Question : ILLEGAL MIGRATION



(a) whether there are reports of migration of foreign nationals from neighbouring countries into the forest areas and territorial council areas; and;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken so far to curb such migration?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) & (b): There are reports of foreign nationals from neighbouring countries having entered the country without valid travel documents. Detection and deportation of foreign nationals illegally staying in the country is a continuous process. Central Government is vested with powers to deport a foreign national under section 3(2))c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946. These powers have also been delegated to the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations. A revised procedure for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants has been set out and circulated to the State Governments / UT Administrations in November, 2009. The procedure includes sending back then and there, the illegal immigrants who are intercepted at the border while entering India unauthorisedly. In order to check illegal immigration and infiltration from Bangladesh, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach which inter alia includes the following measures:-

(1) Construction of border fencing, roads and floodlighting.

(2) Round the clock surveillance of the borders by Border Security Force.

(3) Setting up of more Border Out Posts (BOPs) along Indo-Bangladesh border.

(4) Induction of hi-tech surveillance equipment including night navigation devices.