Assam Government Rolls Out New Rules to Tackle Illegal Immigration
In a big move to control illegal immigration, the Assam Cabinet has approved a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950. This step empowers district authorities to spot and remove illegal migrants from the state, addressing long-standing worries about unchecked immigration in Assam.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the details with reporters in Guwahati. "This SOP gives District Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) the power to act on solid tips about suspected illegal immigrants," he explained. "If someone is suspected, they get 10 days to prove their Indian citizenship with documents. If those papers don’t cut it, the DC issues a written order calling them an illegal immigrant, complete with reasons and evidence."
Once confirmed, the DC slaps an expulsion order under Section 2(a) of the 1950 Act. The person must leave Assam within 24 hours via a set route. For those already declared foreigners by Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs), the DC skips straight to the expulsion order since they’ve used up all legal options.
The SOP also requires officials to record biometric and personal details of these migrants on the Foreigners Identification Portal before sending them out. If someone refuses to go, the DC teams up with the SSP to hold them in a detention center or hand them over to border forces for deportation. And if authorities catch migrants right near the border—within 12 hours of entering Assam—they get pushed back immediately, no questions asked.
This new framework for illegal migrants in Assam aims to make the process faster and fairer, helping the state manage its borders more effectively.
Other Key Decisions from the Cabinet Meeting
The Cabinet, led by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, didn’t stop there. They gave the green light to release Rs 5 crore from the Chief Minister’s Public Emergency Fund of Assam. This money goes to the Chief Minister Relief Fund of Himachal Pradesh to help with relief efforts after devastating monsoon rains hit the hilly state.
In a boost for healthcare workers, the Cabinet fixed pay anomalies for 20 staffers, including physiotherapists, speech therapists, accountants, and cashiers. These folks work at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, plus model hospitals under the Assam health department.
Finally, they approved changes to the Assam Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2020. This update aligns it with the central government’s Model Act of 2017, making it easier for small and marginal farmers to reach markets. It also promotes transparent bidding to get better prices for their produce.
