Lok Sabha Question No. 150 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Infiltration of Illegal Immigrants
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kapil Moreshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *150

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  JULY, 2019/ ASHADHA 11, 1941 (SAKA )

INFILTRATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

†*150.  SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  infiltration  of  illegal  immigrants  including  extremists  from neighbouring  countries  is  increasing  in  the  country  in  spite  of  various measures taken by the Government;

(b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  any  estimation  of  the  exact number of such intruders;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether  the  said  illegal  immigrants  are  causing  many  social  and economic problems in the country especially in West Bengal; and

(e) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to deal with this situation?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *150 FOR 02.07.2019

The  Central  Government  has  adopted  a  multi-pronged  approach  to  ensure effective  surveillance  and  domination  of  international  borders  to  check infiltration  of  illegal  migrants.    Physical  infrastructure  like  border  fencing, floodlighting,  construction  of  border  roads  and  establishment  of  border outposts  has  been  created.    Vulnerable  border  outposts  are  regularly reviewed  and  strengthened  by  deploying  additional  manpower,  special surveillance equipments and other force multipliers. A technological solution in  the  form  of  Comprehensive  Integrated  Border  Management  System (CIBMS) has been implemented in some vulnerable border areas.

Border  guarding  forces  conduct  regular  patrolling,  lay  nakas  and establish  observation  posts  and  carry  out  anti-tunnelling  exercises  to  stop illegal  infiltration.    However,  some  illegal  migrants  are  able  to  sneak  into India  in  a  clandestine  and  surreptitious  manner,  mainly  due    to  difficult mountainous and riverine terrain in parts of  the long international borders. There  is  no  accurate  central  data  regarding  exact  number  of  such  illegal immigrants.

As per the Constitutional scheme, India, as a sovereign nation, has the first and  foremost  constitutional  duty  and  obligation  towards  its  citizens    to ensure  that demographic and social structure of the country is not changed to    their    detriment    and    resources  of  the  nation  are  utilised  to  fulfil  the fundamental    rights   of   Indian   citizens   and   are   not    diverted   to   the

## L.S.S.Q.NO. 150 FOR 02.07.2019

detriment  of  citizens  of  India  due  to  influx  of  illegal  immigrants  into  the territory of India.

To  deal  with  such  illegal  immigrants,  the  powers  of  the  Central Government under Section 3 of The Foreigners Act, 1946 to detect, detain and  deport  illegal  foreign  nationals  and  powers  under  Section  5  of  The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 to remove an illegal foreigner by force have been entrusted under Article 258(1) of the Constitution of India to all the State Governments. Further, under Article 239(1) of the Constitution of India,  Administrators  of  all  Union  Territories  have  also  been  directed  to discharge the functions of the Central Government relating to the aforesaid powers.

Central Government has also issued consolidated instructions regarding  deportation/repatriation  of  foreign  nationals  to  all  States  &  UTs vide  MHA  letter  No.25022/19/2014-F.I  dated  24.04.2014.    Further  advisories have   also   been   issued   to the  State   Governments/UT Administrations regarding identification of illegal migrants and monitoring thereof, vide MHA letter No.24013/29/Misc./2017-CSR.III(i) dated 08.08.2017 and letter No.25022/63/2017-F.IV dated 28.02.2018.

The State Governments/UT Administrations have been taking action against illegal  immigrants  by  booking  them  under  the  relevant  provisions  of  The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and The Foreigners Act, 1946.

******