illegal immigrants - unwanted everywhere.... but in India...

The Nation has its own problems; more gets added to, by people who migrate in [if you thought that it is a problem closer to the borders, you are sadly ill-informed] – next time, you employ a person, check his origin…… and whether he is legally in your country…..

Recently, in an open letter, Abbott said he would immediately implement his border protection plan, under which the Australian navy would turn back Indonesian fishing boats carrying asylum seekers into Australian waters. The coalition has also proposed that the government buy old fishing boats from Indonesian fishermen to prevent people smugglers acquiring them. Australia has announced a hardline illegal immigration policy – probably the toughest in the Western world – and by doing so has set up a showdown with international law and human rights groups, earned the ire of major world associations, and drawn out the naysayers from the United Nations.  Earlier, it was announced that all asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement and none will be allowed to stay in the country.

Away in US, Obama administration issued a policy late last week telling immigration agents to try not to arrest and deport illegal immigrant parents of minor children — a move that adds to the categories of people the administration is trying not to deport. In a nine-page memo issued Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents should use “prosecutorial discretion” to try to avoid detaining parents and, if parents are detained, agents should make sure they have the ability to visit with their children or participate in family court proceedings. Over there, the department is funded to deport about 400,000 immigrants a year out of an estimated population of 11 million. The authority was quoted as sating that it makes sense to focus those deportation efforts on immigrants with serious criminal records or who have violated immigration laws repeatedly.

Mexicans intending to cross the border illegally into the US are not significantly deterred by threats of arrest or the severity of possible punishment – the primary method for dealing with illegal immigration in the US – according to a new study of potential migrants. Concerns about punishment and arrest are typically less influential in the decision to cross the border than other economic and non-economic factors, said a study published.   

Well every country takes care of their own citizens, do not want illegal immigrants and asylum seekers………….. but sadly, in India ~ is appears far different.  Quite often we hear that they not only get all the benefits but also slowly have their say in election – yes in some constituencies, they influence the winner and hence political parties pamper them knowing fully well that they foment trouble for the Nation… how sad !!

Today’s TOI states that the exodus from Bangladeshis into India has for the first time been termed by the United Nations as "the single largest bilateral stock of international migrants" in the eastern hemisphere and also in the developing world.  Here are some excerpts of the newsitem : Data revealed on Thursday by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs(UN-DESA) shows that in 2013, India was home to 3.2 million Bangladeshi residents who had migrated into the country and settled there. Not surprisingly, India was the favourite destination for Bangladeshi migrants in 2013, the report said.

Most international migrants were of working age (20 to 64 years) and accounted for 74% of the total. Globally, women accounted for 48% of all international migrants. Europe remained the most popular destination region with 72 million international migrants in 2013, compared to 71 million in Asia.  While there could be statistics, remember that all those Western countries know who they are and have a total control on what they should be…. In India, they mingle with local population and are engaged in nefarious activities. 

Recently there was a report in the Hindu that at Kochi, 71 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in the State in the last two years, many of them carrying forged documents identifying themselves as Indians. In the last eight months, 32 illegal immigrants were arrested from around Kochi alone. A report by the Intelligence wing of the police, accessed by The Hindu, expressed concern over the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into Kerala, especially considering the threat of cross-border terrorism and the spread of fake Indian currency. The National Investigation Agency  found links with Pakistan in rackets engaged in printing and smuggling fake currency into India. NIA sources said fake currency was now being smuggled into India through its porous border with Bangladesh. Malda district in West Bengal is a key transit point for counterfeiters, sources said.

 “The border with Bangladesh has gaps at some points and immigrants cross into India on foot through the breaks in the fence. Some also swim across rivers on the border to reach India,” Mr. Senkumar told The Hindu. Once they reach India, immigrants obtain fake documents through local agents. Sources said political leaders in parts of West Bengal were also involved in endorsing fake documents such as ration cards for illegal immigrants.  Two of the arrested in Kerala, carried election identity cards with addresses in West Bengal.

That is not all ~ when you read this…… They came legally enough but then failed to go back. An RTI application filed by Karnal-based activist and lawyer Rajesh Sharma has had the Ministry of Home Affairs  (MHA) admitting that over 70,000 foreign nationals have stayed on in the country long after their visas expired. “Despite knowing everything, the state and Central governments are sitting idle. Pakistani nationals who sneaked into India with so-called valid documents have not yet been sent back to their country till date. 

The problem is nothing fresh, nor unknown, only that authorities do not want to take any action…… and that is trouble for the Nation

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

13^th Sept. 2013.