ON khabar
Immigration reform for bharat
New Delhi, March 27, 2024 – The proposed Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, aimed at modernizing India’s immigration framework, has ignited fierce debate in the Lok Sabha. Opposition MPs have raised alarms over provisions granting “arbitrary powers” to immigration authorities, demanding the bill be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny.
Key Concerns: Arbitrary Powers and Lack of Safeguards
Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized the bill’s lack of an appellate mechanism, contrasting it with systems in the U.S. and Canada, where immigration judges or refugee boards review decisions. Under the proposed law, immigration officers’ rulings on entry, stay, or exit of foreigners would be “final and binding,” leaving judicial recourse limited to High Courts or the Supreme Court. Tewari warned this could lead to unchecked harassment, especially with provisions allowing officers to seize “damaged” passports without clear guidelines on what constitutes damage.
Samajwadi Party’s Rajeev Rai and TMC’s Sougata Ray echoed concerns, emphasizing the bill’s national security implications and need for bipartisan review. Rai stressed, “Scrutiny by a committee will strengthen security while addressing loopholes.”
Arrest Powers and Compliance Burden
The bill permits head constables to arrest foreigners suspected of wrongdoing, a provision Tewari argued should be restricted to higher-ranked inspectors. Additionally, penalties for forged documents (2–7 years’ jail, ₹1–10 lakh fines) and illegal entry (up to 5 years’ jail, ₹5 lakh fines) were flagged as overly stringent without adequate checks.
HM @AmitShah ji makes it clear!
Immigration isn’t just a separate issue, it’s linked to multiple challenges facing our nation.
National security comes first! Every person crossing our borders must be accounted for. No more threats, no more… pic.twitter.com/5wRGX21XYu
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) March 27, 2025
Government’s Stance: Streamlining Laws, Boosting Security
The government asserts the bill consolidates four outdated Acts (1920–2000) to balance national security with economic growth and tourism. It introduces digital visa systems, mandates passenger manifests for airlines/ships, and aims to curb illegal immigration by tracking overstayers. Officials claim it simplifies compliance, eases business travel, and aligns with global standards.
Current Visa Framework and Protected Areas
India currently issues e-visas (7 categories) to 167 nations and visa-on-arrival at six airports for Japan, South Korea, and UAE nationals. Foreigners staying over 180 days must register locally, with Pakistanis required to do so within 24 hours. Protected areas in Northeast India, Jammu & Kashmir, and other regions remain restricted without special permits.
What’s Next?
With 98.4 lakh foreigners visiting India in 2023–24, the bill’s impact on tourism and security is significant. While the government emphasizes modernization, opposition parties insist on JPC revisions to prevent misuse of power. Home Minister Amit Shah’s response to the demands will determine whether the bill advances swiftly or undergoes rigorous parliamentary scrutiny.
Keywords: Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025, India immigration reforms, national security, JPC scrutiny, visa-on-arrival, illegal immigration, arbitrary powers.
