West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said he is launching a "detect, delete and deport" framework to identify and remove illegal immigrants from the state [1, 2].
The policy marks a significant shift in the state's approach to border security and immigration. By streamlining the process of identification and removal, the government aims to fulfill a core campaign promise of the BJP to curb illegal infiltration [1, 5].
Under the new system, the state will establish holding centres at the district level [1, 4]. These facilities are designed to house individuals identified as illegal immigrants during the "detect" and "delete" phases of the operation [1, 4]. Once processed, the government will hand over detainees directly to the Border Security Force for deportation [3, 4].
This model is designed to emulate the mass-deportation strategies promised by former U.S. President Donald Trump [1, 2]. The administration is focusing specifically on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who have entered West Bengal [4].
Adhikari said he introduced the norms in May 2024, shortly after assuming office as chief minister [1, 2]. The framework seeks to remove bureaucratic delays by creating a direct pipeline from local identification to federal border enforcement [3].
The initiative targets the removal of individuals from voter rolls and official records, the "delete" portion of the framework, before their physical removal from the country [1, 4].
“"detect, delete and deport"”
The implementation of this framework represents a transition from passive border monitoring to an active, state-led deportation engine. By bypassing traditional judicial or administrative delays and utilizing district-level holding centres, the West Bengal government is creating a rapid-response infrastructure for immigration enforcement that mirrors populist deportation models used in other nations.
