Identified foreigners expelled, border pushbacks now routine: Assam CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 10, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that all identified illegal foreign nationals in the state—excluding those with pending court cases—have been pushed back to Bangladesh. This includes detainees in camps and Rohingya migrants.

Addressing a press conference to mark four years of his government, Sarma said, “Everyone in detention camps, barring a few with ongoing litigation, has been sent back. We’ve nearly completed the process of identifying and deporting illegal foreigners.”

Sarma outlined a significant shift in policy, stating that Assam has abandoned the earlier legal protocol of arrest and court proceedings. “The old method was to arrest infiltrators and try them through the courts. Now we don’t let them in. We intercept and push them back at the border,” he said.

Calling the pushback strategy a “new phenomenon,” Sarma claimed it has drastically cut down successful infiltrations. He noted that while 4,000–5,000 individuals attempt to cross into Assam annually, the numbers are now down due to immediate border action. “In just the last ten days, many were sent back. There’s been no suspicious activity at the Indo-Bangladesh border,” he added.

He also said the pushback system has been formalized and is now a “daily affair,” supported by strengthened border surveillance.

Taking aim at opposition voices, Sarma accused Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi of siding with anti-national elements. “Everyone promoting pro-Pakistan narratives has faced action—except Gaurav Gogoi. His opposition to the Sukhoi-30 deal and repeated attacks on India’s defence institutions raise serious concerns,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister’s remarks underscore a hardening stance on illegal immigration and national security, setting the tone for Assam’s evolving border enforcement policies.