Suvendu Govt orders to set up holding centers in every district for illegal immigrants

The newly formed BJP government in West Bengal has officially commenced the implementation of its "Detect-Delete-Deport" policy, a cornerstone promise from its election campaign. Following directives from the Union Home Ministry, the state administration has instructed all district magistrates to establish dedicated holding centers to house identified illegal immigrants. This move signals a transition from political rhetoric to administrative action, as the government seeks to streamline the identification and removal of individuals residing in the state without legal documentation.

According to the state's latest notification, these holding centers will serve as transitional facilities for Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas who entered India after the cutoff date of December 31, 2024. Additionally, individuals released from state correctional facilities who are identified as illegal infiltrators will be transferred to these centers rather than being released into the community. Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari has emphasized that the state will work in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), handing over identified individuals directly for deportation across the border.

The legal framework for this operation differentiates between those protected under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and those classified as illegal immigrants. The Chief Minister clarified that anyone who arrived before the end of 2024 and falls under the criteria of the CAA will be considered a legal citizen. However, those who do not meet these legal requirements—specifically targeting the majority community from Bangladesh who entered after the cutoff—will face deportation. This policy aligns with the Union Home Minister's repeated assurances that illegal infiltration would be addressed with a "zero-tolerance" approach.