Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a tougher approach to persons declared illegal foreigners, saying the state will prioritise immediate push back in 2026 after carrying out large-scale eviction drives during 2025.
“If the year 2025 was a year of eviction, 2026 will be a year of push back of illegal infiltrators,” Sarma said at the state’s first press conference of the year, NATUN DINOR ALAP, on New Year’s Day.
The new policy states that anyone declared a foreigner by a Foreigners Tribunal will be returned within a week. The aim is to prevent prolonged legal challenges in higher courts that have previously delayed implementation of tribunal decisions.
Assam push back illegal infiltrators
Sarma told reporters that in many cases those identified by tribunals approach the High Court or the Supreme Court, which can postpone removal for months or years. The state plans to take immediate action once a tribunal delivers its finding, he said, arguing this will restore momentum to efforts on the foreigners issue.
The chief minister cited recent legal backing from the Supreme Court as a foundation for the policy. “After the Supreme Court upheld our state’s Illegal Immigrant Expulsion Act, we have now adopted a policy of pushing back illegal immigrants,” he said, adding that swift returns would bring significant changes to the handling of foreigner cases in Assam.
Sarma has also reiterated the stance on social media, writing on X that the state will be “ruthless” in enforcing the policy and that Assam is not a “breeding ground.” His comments follow an intensive programme of evictions in 2025 that officials say targeted those recognised as illegal under existing legal processes.
Officials argue the measure is part of a wider shift in Assam’s governance. The chief minister pointed to a reduction in protests and bandhs, and to improvements in law and order that have followed political changes since 2016 and his own assumption of office in 2021. He said the state is now experiencing greater social calm and visible economic progress.
Human rights groups and civil society organisations have previously raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and the need for careful legal safeguards. The state government says the push back policy will rely on tribunal determinations and existing judicial rulings to remain within the legal framework.
Observers say implementation will require close coordination between tribunals, law enforcement and border authorities, and that the potential for court appeals could present logistical and legal challenges despite the state’s intention to act quickly. The coming months will test how rapidly the policy can be put into operation and how it will interact with India’s judicial review processes.
For now, the announcement marks a clear signal from Assam’s administration that the handling of foreigners’ cases will become more time-bound and enforcement-oriented in 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says 2026 will focus on the push back of illegal infiltrators, following large-scale evictions in 2025.
- The state plans to return individuals declared foreigners by a Foreigners Tribunal within a week to avoid prolonged legal delays.
- The move follows Supreme Court backing for the state’s Illegal Immigrant Expulsion Act and aims to accelerate implementation.
- Officials say the policy forms part of broader governance reforms that have brought stability and economic progress to Assam.
