Guwahati, March 31: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has vowed to intensify efforts against illegal migrants if his party is re-elected. However, recent statistics reveal a notable decrease in deportations over the last ten years.

During the launch of the BJP’s Sankalp Patra for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, Sarma asserted that the party would rigorously implement the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, should they secure a third term in the elections scheduled for April 9.

He emphasized, “This Act allows District Commissioners to expel illegal foreigners within a day. If we are elected, we will ensure its strict enforcement daily.”

Reaffirming that identifying and deporting illegal migrants is a priority, Sarma announced tougher actions against alleged infiltrators from Bangladesh and promised to reclaim land reportedly occupied by these migrants.

He stated, “We will not allow illegal Bangladeshis to occupy any land. This is our commitment to protect Assam’s identity.”

The BJP's manifesto also includes proposals for new laws aimed at addressing what they term “love jihad” and “land jihad,” linking these issues to illegal migration concerns.

Despite these promises, official data indicates a significant drop in deportations over the years. In 2009, deportations were recorded at 10,602, which decreased to 6,290 in 2010 and 6,761 in 2011. The numbers fell sharply to 5,234 in 2013 and plummeted to 989 in 2014, continuing to decline to 474 in 2015, 308 in 2016, and just 51 in 2017.

Recent statistics show that from 2013 to 2026, only 868 deportations have occurred. Last year, merely 52 individuals were deported under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, while 1,421 migrants were turned back after illegally entering India.

In contrast, approximately 29,600 illegal migrants were repelled between 1986 and 2013, highlighting a more proactive approach in earlier years.

Detection rates remain high, with Assam government data revealing over 137,000 migrants identified from the post-1971 period and more than 33,000 from 1966-71.

Officials attribute the decline in deportations to diplomatic hurdles, particularly Bangladesh’s hesitance to verify the nationality of suspected migrants.

Currently, 2,369 cases await nationality verification, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

A recent Parliamentary Committee labeled illegal migration from Bangladesh as a “serious concern,” particularly for border states like Assam and West Bengal, recommending a dedicated bilateral framework to expedite verification and repatriation.

The situation is further complicated by the incomplete National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was designed to distinguish between legitimate citizens and illegal migrants.

The disparity between the BJP’s renewed electoral promises and the declining deportation statistics highlights the complexities of one of Assam’s most contentious political issues, which remains a focal point in the ongoing Assembly election campaign.