31,789 illegal immigrants deported from Assam in 40 years: CM

Published 6 July 2026 · politics

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday (July 6, 2026) told the 126-member Assam Assembly that 31,789 illegal immigrants were deported from the State over

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday (July 6, 2026) told the 126-member Assam Assembly that 31,789 illegal immigrants were deported from the State over the last 40 years. The deportation was based on the cut-off date of the August 1985 Assam Accord, which ended a si year violent agitation against foreigners from neighbouring countries, specifically Bangladesh, staying illegally in the State. The accord prescribes the detection and deportation of any immigrant who entered Assam illegally after March 24, 1971. Replying to a question from Asom Gana Parishad MLA Diptimoyee Choudhury, the Chief Minister said the 31,789 were among the 1,72,673 illegal migrants detected since 1985.

He said 2,366 of them were deported between 2011 and June 30 this year. Sarma, who holds the Home portfolio, said cases against 73,750 others were pending in the quasi-judicial Foreigners’ Tribunals across the State. These tribunals adjudge the citizenship status of people referred by the Assam police’s Border wing on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. People who cannot convince the tribunals about their Indian citizenship are marked “declared foreigners”. The Chief Minister said the 174 such declared foreigners were lodged at the Matia transit camp in western Assam’s Goalpara district and some holding centres.

Sarma said six out of 70 applicants had been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019. This Act allowed non-Muslims, who took refuge in India up to December 31, 2014, after fleeing religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, to apply for citizenship. Border fencing Replying to another question from Ms. Choudhury, Border Protection and Development Department Minister Atul Bora said 228.54 km of the Bangladesh border had been fenced. A 34.6 km stretch could not be fenced as it straddled a river, while fencing could not be erected along another 4.35 km stretch due to opposition from the Border Guard Bangladesh.

Bora said the Border Security Force manned the riverine stretch under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System. “The Centre has the responsibility of completely sealing the border,” he added. According to the Survey of India, Assam shares a 267.5 km border with Bangladesh. The State’s Bangladesh border districts are Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Cachar and Sribhumi.