NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked all the states to identify illegal immigrants like Rohingyas and deport them as they allegedly pose a security challenge to India. In a letter sent to all states last week, Dilip Kumar, a joint secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said “illegal migrants are more vulnerable to getting recruited by terrorist organisations.”
Besides being a burden on the resources of the country, the ministry said, infiltration of Rohingyas from Rakhine state of Myanmar into India in recent years aggravates the security challenges. “These illegal immigrants not only infringe on the rights of Indian citizens but also pose grave security challenges,” said the letter directing the state governments to set up a task forces at the district level to identify and deport illegally-staying foreign nationals.
India has said that only around 14,000 Rohingyas living in India are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, while about 40,000 are said to be staying illegally. The latter can be deported to Bangladesh and Myanmar, the letter said.