India Tightens Foreigners Law, Immigration Bureau To Deport Illegal Aliens

Foreigners Law

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, notified by the Union Home Ministry, has ushered in sweeping changes to India’s immigration system.

The law introduces tighter controls on passports and visas, makes it mandatory for institutions to report foreign nationals, and gives the Bureau of Immigration enhanced statutory powers to crack down on illegal migrants.

The Act, cleared by Parliament during the Budget Session and signed by President Droupadi Murmu on April 4, reflects the government’s growing emphasis on curbing illegal immigration.

Mandatory Reporting By Institutions

Hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and universities are now legally bound to share details of foreigners under their care or admission. The provision aims to prevent overstaying and make tracking of visa violators more efficient.

The Act also empowers the Centre to regulate places “frequented by foreigners.” Authorities can order closure, impose conditions on operations, or restrict entry of specific categories of foreigners into such premises.

Forged Passports Could Mean 7 Years in Jail

The law takes a hard stance against forged travel documents. Anyone caught entering, staying in, or leaving India on a fake passport or visa faces up to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹10 lakh. Those involved in supplying forged travel documents will also face strict punishment.

Bureau of Immigration Gets Legal Muscle

Established in 1971, the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) earlier functioned as a regulatory body under the Intelligence Bureau. The new Act now provides it with statutory authority, significantly strengthening its role.

The BoI will coordinate with states, Union Territories, and other agencies to identify, detain, and deport illegal immigrants. It will also manage immigration-related IT systems, record biometric data of foreigners, and act as custodian of sensitive immigration information. Additionally, the Bureau will advise the central government on policy issues related to immigration.

Who Is An Illegal Migrant?

The Act adopts the definition from the Citizenship Act, 1955. A foreigner without valid travel documents, or one who overstays beyond the permitted time despite entering legally, is classified as an illegal migrant.

Former Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament in 2016 that India is home to nearly 20 million Bangladeshi illegal immigrants. The issue has since remained politically sensitive, particularly in BJP-ruled states, many of which have recently launched crackdowns on Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants.

Political & Security Significance

The law comes soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, where he warned of “a well-thought-out conspiracy to change the country’s demography” and announced a high-powered demography mission.

The new rules are expected to complement efforts by agencies and even the Election Commission, which has launched a Special Intensive Revision exercise to weed out illegal immigrants from voter rolls.