On Wednesday, Parliament approved the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which seeks to regulate the entry, stay, and immigration of foreign nationals in the country. The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill after a debate, after already receiving clearance from the Lok Sabha.
An important feature of the bill is introducing tighter surveillance policies and stronger security measures.
Earlier, during the presentation of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted its significance by saying: "It will improve the country's security and economy, open the gates to make our education system and universities in the world class, provide a firm foundation for research and inquiry in the country and make India number one in the world in all sectors by 2047."
He also added that immigration is not an independent issue but is connected with many national issues. He stressed the need to monitor people entering the nation, their stay period, and the reasons for visiting the country to maintain national security.
Earlier during the day, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai introduced the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, in the Rajya Sabha.
Talking during the discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said no one wants the nation to be a "Dharamshala" (home for everyone), but it also should not be converted into a jail. "For 10 years, citizens of the country have been made to feel like prisoners. Now, this law seems to give the same treatment to foreigners who come on proper visas and passports," he said.
Raut had expressed fear that some provisions in the Bill could harm the tourism sector.
"We do not want illegal immigrants, whether they are Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, Americans, or Europeans. When former US President Trump sent Indians residing illegally in America back, they were handcuffed and deported on military planes. If an American is residing illegally in India, he should be deported likewise," he declared.
He also asserted that there were more than three crore Bangladeshis and Rohingyas staying in the nation illegally and they must be sent back.
Targeting Section 7 of the Bill, Raut said it provides the Central government with powers to control where the foreigners should reside, travel, and meet whom.
"Foreign delegations, journalists, or diplomats would even require government sanction to sit down with eminent leaders in India under this provision. If it is refused, they cannot hold those meetings," he contended.
He also pointed out that earlier terrorist intrusions had not been through legal immigration routes. "Ajmal Kasab and his co-conspirators did not arrive with valid passports; they arrived illegally by sea, undetected. The law needs to be strengthened, but this bill should be sent to the standing committee for further debate," he proposed.
On the other hand, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra supported the Bill, claiming national security as the priority. He raised the point that previous immigration laws lacked loopholes in border security and the prevention of illegal entry.
"The new bill simplifies entry into India, travel papers, visa, and refusal of entry where required. We want to make India a center for medical, educational, and manufacturing activities while ensuring foreigners come for genuine reasons. National security is always the priority, and the authorities should have the right to check travel documents and refuse entry if needed," Jangra said.
He also pointed out that India is now issuing e-visas to nationals of 169 countries but emphasized the need to empower officials to safeguard the country's sovereignty and security. "If there is a threat, officials should have the authority to deny entry to foreign nationals," he further added.
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