Curbs on foreigners

The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, reflects the Union Government’s intent to exercise greater control over the entry, exit and stay of foreigners. The proposed legislation, which has been termed by the Opposition as violative of fundamental rights and other constitutional provisions, allows the government to bar foreign nationals from entering or staying in case of threats to India’s security, sovereignty and integrity, besides other grounds. While the Bill is ostensibly aimed at modernising and consolidating immigration laws — some of which date back to the colonial era — it contains stringent provisions that might deter many tourists and other visitors from coming to India. Refugees will find it even harder to wade through the Indian red tape.

Under the Bill, no warrant is required to arrest a person who enters the country without valid documents; this is applicable even if there is a “reasonable suspicion” that the person does not possess valid papers. Foreign nationals would no longer have the liberty to get themselves registered while entering or exiting India or during the course of their stay; they would have to approach the registration officer concerned promptly upon arrival. Moreover, the Bill places significant obligations on medical and educational institutions to report about foreigners to the registration authorities. This implies that even those who host them might face hassles.

The provision that prohibits foreigners from associating with “persons of a specified description” is suggestive of politically motivated surveillance. A government that projects India as Vishva Bandhu (friend of the world) and claims to be guided by the all-embracing principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) would be well advised to review a legislation that runs counter to the nation’s global aspirations. There should be no compromise on national security, but potential misuse of the law to impose crippling curbs on foreigners can prove to be a bad advertisement for India.