Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that 20 undocumented migrants from Bangladesh had been detained and pushed back across the border.
Sharing the update on social media, Sarma wrote, “Rude people don’t understand soft language,” adding that Assam continues to act against what he called “infiltrators.” He also posted a blurred image of the detained individuals.
“For instance, these 20 illegal Bangladeshis who were pushed back last night. Assam will fight, pushbacks will continue,” he said.
Repeated Claims of Weekly Pushbacks
Sarma has repeatedly stated that his government is committed to an “infiltration-free Assam.” He has claimed that around 35 to 40 “illegal immigrants” are being pushed back every week.
He has also said that Assam is acting independently under legal provisions and does not need a repatriation agreement with Bangladesh for such action.
Legal Framework and Government Action
Earlier this year, Sarma said that undocumented migrants declared foreigners by Foreigners’ Tribunals Assam would be pushed back within a week under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950.
The Assam Cabinet has also approved a standard operating procedure to implement this law more actively. Under this framework, district officials and police are empowered to expel individuals identified as illegal migrants.
Concerns Over Citizenship Determination
The Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam decide citizenship cases, but they have often faced criticism for alleged arbitrariness. Reports have said that people have been declared foreigners due to spelling errors, missing documents, or minor inconsistencies.
Those declared foreigners can appeal to the Gauhati High Court or the Supreme Court, but deportation does not always happen immediately due to procedural delays or verification issues.
Broader Context and Detentions
Since recent security developments in 2025, several BJP-ruled states have increased checks on Bengali-speaking individuals, many of whom are Muslims, asking them to prove their citizenship.
Rights groups have raised concerns that some individuals were wrongly pushed into Bangladesh, though in certain cases they were later brought back after Indian authorities confirmed their citizenship.
The Assam government, however, maintains that its actions are necessary for border security and to control illegal migration.
