CONTEXT: Intensifying efforts to identify immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar illegally residing in Odisha, the Jharsuguda district administration recently rounded up 444 suspected foreign nationals, officials said.
Illegal Migration
- Illegal migration refers to trans-boundary migration of people from one country to another without valid documents, using illegal means.
- In Indian context,as per Citizenship Act, 1955, an illegal migrant is definedas, a foreigner who enters India,
- without a valid passportor other prescribed travel documents, or
- with a valid passportor other prescribed travel documentsbut remains in India beyond the permitted time period.

Reasons for illegal migration
Ø Political and religious persecution: This has led to refugees andillegal immigrants from Tibet, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladeshfinding shelter in India.
Ø Overpopulation:This may lead tocrisis of living space. E.gIn countries like Bangladesh where high population density has led to illegal migration in North eastern States of India.
Ø Stagnant Economic Growthand Lack of Employment:Industrialisation in India’s neighbouring countries has not been able to keep pace with the growing labour force and as a result, the unemployment rate is declining. The working-age people who are unable to find jobs in the country look outside for employment opportunities.
Ø Better standard of living:Real or Perceived promise of better opportunities in destination countries.
E.g., thepromise of ‘The American Dream’still attracts lot of migrants both legal and illegal towards U.S.A.
Ø Human Trafficking networks:Smuggling of migrants is a highly profitable illicit activity with a relatively low risk of detection.
As of October 2023, 2925 illegal agents have been notified in India through the e-Migrate portal.
Consequences of Illegal Migration in India:
- Risk of Detention and deportation:Illegal migrants face constant fear of being deported by the authorities and may also be mistreated during detention
- E.g.,Detention centres of USfor illegal migrants, are often alleged tohave poor living conditionsimpacting physical, mental, social health of detainees including children.
- Social Tensions:Large scale illegal migration maydistort existing demographyand pose a threat to existing socio-cultural identity.
- E.gThreat to Assamese identitydue to illegal migration from Bangladesh has given rise to various socio-political tensions in Assam.
- Facilitates Organized Crimes:Often organized criminal groups are involved in smuggling migrants across borders (e.g. US-Mexico Border).
- Political Instability:Conflict over scarce resources, economic opportunities and cultural dominance ensues between the locals and migrants, along with the resultant political instability caused by the mobilization of popular perception against the migrants by the elites to grab political power.
- Economic Exploitation:Illegal andundocumented migrants lack legal safeguardand thus are prone to informal, temporary or unprotected jobs and even forced labour.
- Violation of Human Rights:Illegal Migrants are vulnerable to multiple inhumane conditions andcriminal offences likeassault, rape or extortion during their arduous journeys or at the destination region.
Initiatives Taken to counter illegal migration:
- Border management:To restrict infiltration of illegal immigrants. Initiatives include,
- Physical infrastructure in the form ofborder fencing, floodlightingetc
- Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS),a technological solution to improve situational awareness along border areas.
- Regular patrolling and anti-tunneling exerciseby Border Security Force, Assam Rifles etc. to stop illegal infiltration.
Global Initiatives
- Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration:Global agreement underInternational Organization for Migration (IOM)on a common approach to international migration in all its dimensions
One of its objectives is to, ’Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration’.
- Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).