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Assam Sets 1-Week Deadline to Push Back Tribunal-Declared Foreigners

The government says a revived 1950 expulsions law with a new SOP authorizes immediate action on tribunal findings.

Overview

  • Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said nearly 2,000 people were pushed back in recent months, including 18 on December 31, and pledged a tougher drive in 2026.
  • The policy calls for removal within seven days of a Foreigners’ Tribunal order to prevent delays from appeals to the Gauhati High Court or the Supreme Court.
  • Officials cite the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 and recent Supreme Court positions, with district commissioners empowered to issue 10‑day leave notices and order 24‑hour expulsions in some cases.
  • Sarma stated Assam will not wait for a repatriation treaty with Bangladesh and projected the capacity to expel 10,000 to 50,000 people a year if identified.
  • The pushback campaign is being emphasized as a central election issue tied to protecting indigenous identity before the March–April 2026 assembly polls.