Amid intensifying crackdowns on illegal immigrants, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declined to disclose whether any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) or formal mechanism exists for the deportation of Bangladeshi nationals.
The response came in reply to an RTI application seeking details related to deportation of Bangladeshi nationals, including the number deported over the last 25 years, the process followed for deportation, the number of individuals currently detained and awaiting deportation, and whether any SOP or bilateral arrangement exists between the two neighbouring nations for repatriation.
In its reply, the MHA termed queries related to SOPs and deportation arrangements as “vague in nature” and said it was “not possible to furnish information.”
The development assumes significance after the West Bengal government moved to formalise its crackdown on illegal immigrants by directing all district administrations to establish holding centres for Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals awaiting deportation.
The order, issued by the Home and Hill Affairs Department’s Foreigners’ Branch on May 23, instructed district magistrates to create facilities for “apprehended foreigners” and “released foreign prisoners” until deportation and repatriation procedures are completed.
The move effectively gave administrative shape to the state government’s “detect, delete and deport” policy.
Last year, the MHA had also directed all states and Union Territories to identify and verify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, including Rohingya, within 30 days.
On questions related to deportation figures, detention data and the process followed for deportation, the MHA transferred responsibility to the Bureau of Immigration (BOI).
“Information sought pertains to Bureau of Immigration. Hence, your application is transferred to Bureau of Immigration for providing information directly to the applicant. You may also obtain the information from concerned State Governments in terms of DoPT OM dated 12.06.2008.”
However, the BOI itself is exempt from the purview of the RTI Act except in matters involving allegations of corruption or human rights violations, raising uncertainty over whether such information would eventually be disclosed.
The RTI application had specifically sought copies of any SOP or guidelines governing deportation of Bangladeshi nationals and details of any formal mechanism or agreement through which Bangladesh accepts deported individuals from India.
The application specifically asked whether any SOP or guidelines exist for deportation of Bangladeshi nationals, and copies of the same; and whether Bangladesh accepts deported nationals and whether any formal mechanism or agreement exists regarding repatriation.
In response to both queries, the MHA stated: “It is informed that information sought by you is vague in nature and, therefore, it is not possible to furnish information.”
The Ministry did not elaborate further or indicate whether such procedures or agreements exist in any documented form.
The RTI response also revealed that powers related to action against illegal immigrants have already been delegated to state governments and immigration authorities under the newly enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
The Foreigners-I Division of the MHA stated: “Powers of Central Government to detect, restrict movement, deport illegal foreign nationals/illegal immigrants under Sub-section (2) of Section 7, 13 and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 have been delegated to all the State Governments/UT Administrations and Bureau of Immigration.”
The reply, however, leaves several critical questions unanswered, including whether any publicly available deportation protocol exists, how nationality verification is conducted, what coordination mechanism operates with Bangladeshi authorities, and under what framework deported individuals are accepted across the border.
Source: India Today
