Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that India is not a “Dharamshala” where anyone can enter and settle illegally, saying the government’s objective is to make the country free of infiltrators within a short period. Shah said illegal immigration was a national security issue and maintained that people entering India unlawfully could not be treated on a par with legitimate refugees. He reiterated the government’s emphasis on identifying illegal entrants, removing them from electoral rolls where applicable and initiating steps for their deportation.
Shah draws clear distinction
The Home Minister sought to distinguish between refugees fleeing persecution and people who cross India's borders illegally for economic or other reasons. He maintained that India has historically provided shelter to those facing persecution but said illegal entry could not be permitted in the name of humanitarian considerations.
Shah has previously described the government's approach as “Detect, Delete and Deport” — identifying illegal immigrants, removing ineligible names from voter lists and ultimately deporting those found to have entered the country unlawfully.
He argued that allowing illegal entrants to remain in the country could have implications for national security, demographic patterns and the integrity of electoral rolls.
Border security in focus
Shah said the government was strengthening measures to curb infiltration and emphasised that India's borders could not be allowed to remain porous. The Centre has repeatedly highlighted fencing, surveillance and improved coordination among security agencies as crucial elements of its border-management strategy.
The Home Minister has also maintained that state governments have an important role in tackling illegal immigration, particularly in border regions where land acquisition and local administrative cooperation are necessary for completing fencing and other security infrastructure.
He has previously accused opposition-ruled states of failing to cooperate adequately with the Centre on measures intended to curb infiltration, allegations those parties have contested.
Citizenship debate continues
The issue of illegal immigration has remained closely linked to the political debate surrounding citizenship and electoral rolls. Shah has argued that voting rights belong exclusively to Indian citizens and that the Election Commission has a responsibility to ensure that electoral rolls contain only eligible voters.
At the same time, the government maintains that refugees covered by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act should not be equated with illegal infiltrators. The law provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for specified non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India after facing religious persecution, subject to its statutory conditions.
Shah's latest remarks underline the Centre's continued focus on illegal immigration as both a security and political issue, with the Home Minister indicating that the government intends to accelerate efforts to identify and deport people found to be living in the country unlawfully.