Only 467 Repatriated Despite 1.7 Lakh Declared Illegal Foreigners in Assam: Governor

Despite nearly 1.7 lakh people being declared illegal foreigners in Assam by Foreigners’ Tribunals over the years, only 467 individuals have been repatriated so far, Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya said on Sunday, highlighting the significant gap between legal declarations and actual deportations.
Addressing the Republic Day समारोह in Guwahati, the Governor said that since the establishment of Foreigners’ Tribunals in the state, around 4.35 lakh cases related to suspected nationality have been referred to them. Of these, more than 3.5 lakh cases have been disposed of, resulting in about 1.7 lakh people being declared illegal foreigners.
However, Acharya noted that the number of people actually deported remains extremely low. “Only 467 declared foreigners have been repatriated to their respective countries till date,” he said, without elaborating on the specific reasons for the slow pace of deportation.
Officials have repeatedly pointed out that deportation involves complex administrative, legal and diplomatic processes, including confirmation of nationality and coordination with the countries concerned, which often delays or stalls repatriation.
The Governor also referred to steps taken to strengthen border management in Assam, particularly along the India–Bangladesh border. He said that several border outposts and patrol posts have been set up in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police to curb illegal infiltration and cross-border crimes.
On the law and order front, Acharya said Assam has made significant progress in implementing the new criminal laws, adding that the state has been recognised for effective rollout of the updated legal framework. He also claimed that overall crime rates in Assam have shown a decline in recent years, including crimes against women.
The disclosure once again brings the issue of illegal immigration and deportation into focus in Assam, where the matter remains politically sensitive and legally complex, even decades after the signing of the Assam Accord.