On the table this Budget session: A Bill to regulate immigrants

This Budget session of Parliament, the ruling BJP is all set to push legislation on one of its major electoral planks—illegal immigration. The list of government business circulated on Thursday morning mentions among priorities of the government a new Bill called The Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025.

The Bill is listed among 16 priority legislations of the government, including the Wakf Amendment Bill 2024 to regulate wakf properties in India.

Although the contours of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill are not clear, it appears intended to regulate the entry of immigrants into India. This could be the overarching law on the subject currently governed by multiple legislations, such as The Foreigners Act 1946, The Passport Entry into India Act 1920 and the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939.

The Bill, though listed for consideration, can only be taken up if the Union Cabinet approves it.

The Cabinet is yet to take up this draft legislation for approval.

Illegal immigration of Bangladeshi people has been a huge election issue of the BJP in eastern India, especially West Bengal and Jharkhand which are both ruled by non-BJP states.

Despite promising to oust illegal immigrants from Jharkhand, the BJP last year lost the Assembly election to JMM chief Hemant Soren-led INDIA bloc alliance.

Even in Delhi, the BJP has been working on the purging of electoral rolls to weed out “illegal Rohingyas”. The AAP had earlier challenged alterations in electoral rolls of Delhi before the EC which said no unfair changes were made.

In all, the government has listed 16 Bills for consideration in the Budget Session.