Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any reports regarding Indian Citizens residing as illegal migrants in various countries and if so, the details thereof and the names of the countries in which they are residing illegally; and
(b) the assistance being provided by the Indian Diplomatic Missions to help such migrants?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) Many foreign countries do not provide information on illegal stay or work of Indian nationals in their countries, except when they are under orders of deportation. As such, our Missions and Posts do not have any reliable data on the number of Indians staying or working illegally in foreign countries.
(b) The Government enables legal travel and stay of Indian nationals abroad. Whenever any detention of an Indian national for violation of immigration laws is brought to our notice, our Missions/Posts abroad seek consular access and visit detention centres where Indian nationals are detained. After confirmation of Indian nationality, our Missions/Posts abroad issue Emergency Certificates to Indian nationals, who do not hold valid Indian passports, to facilitate their return to India. The Mission/Post officials abroad also attend to labour/general court hearings against Indian nationals for violation of immigration laws from time to time. Some of our Missions/Posts abroad also issue advisories to Indian nationals counselling them to regularize their visas and residency documents in the country of their stay.