Fortress India

The passage of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, is a long-overdue correction to India’s porous borders and lax enforcement of immigration laws. The bill streamlines and modernizes immigration policies, ensuring national security while allowing legitimate visitors for business, education, and healthcare. Predictably, the opposition, particularly the Trinamool Congress, has cried foul, portraying it as an attack on so-called secularism. Beneath their rhetoric lies decades of political appeasement that have compromised India’s security.

The new law consolidates four archaic pieces of legislation that no longer serve India’s interests in an era of globalization and digital governance. It tightens border controls, mandates the tracking of foreigners overstaying their visas, and introduces harsh penalties for illegal entry. The law is a clear message that India will no longer be a free-for-all sanctuary for infiltrators.

Much of the resistance to this bill comes predictably from parties that have historically benefited from turning a blind eye to illegal immigration. The Trinamool Congress, which governs West Bengal, has long been accused of shielding infiltrators for vote-bank politics. The numbers speak for themselves. South 24 Parganas, a known hotspot for illegal migration, has seen a surge in fake Aadhaar cards, enabling undocumented immigrants to blend into the system undetected. Despite multiple letters and meetings, the West Bengal government has refused to act decisively. The obvious reason being that these illegal migrants, primarily from Bangladesh, form a critical voter base for the ruling party.

The Congress and other so-called ‘secular’ parties will frame this bill as an attack on humanitarian principles. But one need only look at Europe to understand the perils of a lax immigration policy. Hungary, for instance, has faced an influx of migrants that has overwhelmed its welfare system and led to sharp rises in crime and social tensions. Even Western European nations that once prided themselves on open borders, such as France and Germany, have been forced to acknowledge the strain of unchecked immigration. If Europe, with its vast resources, has found the situation untenable, then India must be even more vigilant.

Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi infiltrators are not just an economic liability but also a security risk, fostering demographic shifts in border states and fueling ethnic and religious tensions. The bill ensures that India has up-to-date records of every foreigner entering the country, thus reducing internal security threats.

Critics argue this ‘xenophobic’ law leads to profiling and harassment of certain communities. This is a tired argument that ignores realities of border security. The bill does not target any religion or nationality - it targets illegality. This bill is a decisive step towards securing India’s borders and sovereignty. It is a recognition that a nation’s first duty is to its own citizens. The days of lax enforcement and political appeasement are over. The strident protests of the Opposition mean it has prioritized votes above the national interest. The message is clear: India welcomes guests, not gatecrashers.