193 Declared Foreigners Deported to Bangladesh from Assam in 2 Years

The Assam government has reported that 193 individuals declared as foreigners by state tribunals have been sent to Bangladesh over the past two years. This includes 67 people expelled under the revived Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, according to data tabled in the state legislative assembly by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The data was provided in response to a question from All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Badruddin Ajmal. It comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) following a Supreme Court ruling on Monday. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta set aside 27 judgments of the Gauhati High Court that had upheld FT orders declaring appellants foreigners ex-parte—without their presence. The court ruled that citizenship determinations must follow a fair, lawful, and reasonable process and remanded all cases for fresh adjudication.

According to the government data, a total of 1,679 people were sent to Bangladesh between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, under three categories: formal deportation, "sent back," and "expelled." Of these, 192 were declared foreigners by FTs, while one infant, Moriom Begum, accompanied her mother, who is a declared foreigner.

Declared foreigners have the right to appeal in the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court. Formal deportation requires mutual verification with the receiving country. However, since May 2025, the Assam government has used a "push back" method, forcing individuals across the border without bilateral discussions. In September 2025, the government announced revival of the 1950 Act and framed a standard operating procedure (SOP), often giving declared foreigners 24 hours to leave before being forcibly expelled.

The district-wise breakdown of the 67 expelled individuals shows the highest numbers from Nagaon (19), Kokrajhar (16), Barpeta (7), and Chirang and Karbi Anglong (4 each). Others include Dima Hasao (3), Hojai (3), Kamrup Rural (2), Dhubri (2), and one each from Bongaigaon, Tamulpur, Udalguri, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, and Hailakandi.

The remaining 125 declared foreigners listed as "repatriated" were sent back, including an infant from Darrang district who was pushed back with her mother in May 2025, as previously reported.

In response to a question on whether any deported persons had appealed to higher courts, the government stated: "No identified illegal immigrant is repatriated if any appeal is pending in Honourable High Court or Supreme Court of India. There is no information available if any repatriated people appealed before the Honourable High Court or Supreme Court of India."

The issue highlights the legal complexities surrounding citizenship and deportation, with the Supreme Court emphasizing procedural fairness. The Foreigners Tribunals, established under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, determine the nationality of individuals suspected of being illegal migrants. The revival of the 1950 Act has been criticized by human rights groups for bypassing due process.