Assam deported 2,089 foreigners since 2016, 2,023 from Bangladesh

The State government tells the Assam Assembly that 61,259 Hindus and Christians were among 1,72,673 foreigners detected in Assam till May 31

Published: July 23, 2026 07:53 am IST — GUWAHATI By: The Hindu Bureau

Not all foreigners deported, expelled, or pushed back from Assam are Bangladeshi nationals.

The State government informed the Assembly on Wednesday that 2,089 foreigners were deported from January 2016 to June 2026 for entering or staying in Assam illegally. Among these, 2,023 were from Bangladesh.

“The second-largest number of foreigners deported or expelled is from Myanmar, followed by Nigerians,” Assam Accord Implementation Minister Atul Bora said in reply to a question from Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed.

According to data provided by the Minister, who also serves as president of the Asom Gana Parishad, the designated State authorities detected and deported the following nationals over the past 10 years:

• Myanmar: 39
• Nigeria: 18
• Afghanistan: 2
• Russia: 2
• Ukraine: 2
• Kenya: 1
• Pakistan: 1
• Uganda: 1

Religious Break-up of Foreigners Identified

In response to a separate question from Raijor Dal chief and Sibsagar legislator Akhil Gogoi, the State government provided the religious break-up of those identified as foreigners in Assam as of May 31, 2026.

Of the 1,72,673 people identified:

• Muslims: 1,11,414
• Hindus: 61,189
• Christians: 70

‘117 Expelled’

Mr. Bora said 1,572 foreigners staying illegally in Assam were sent back to their home countries from 2025 to June 30, 2026, while 117 others were expelled during this period.

“We are sending back illegal foreigners to Bangladesh in accordance with a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 2, 2025,” he said.