It is clear by the way state-wise breakups have been given of the hundred-odd illegal immigrants sent back to India that verification on the authenticity of the claims made by the illegals being deported that they were citizens of the Republic of India. Verification of family records of such illegals would have been carried out by concerned officials. Care needs to be taken by the Home and External Affairs Ministries to ensure the identification and weeding out of those few officials who may have succumbed to the financial and other lures of agents responsible for such migration to look the other way when impostors from Bangladesh and Pakistan sought to join genuine citizens in their deportation to India. A single such rogue official could cause havoc by unlawfully permitting the entry into India even of actual or potential terrorists, which is why the Anti-Corruption Bureau is an important part of the functioning of the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cabinet ministers led by Home Minister Amit Shah clearly stand behind the PM where efforts at batting such elements are concerned. It is unfortunate that despite the fact that illegal immigrants into India are a threat to not just the livelihoods of genuine citizens, but to their lives as well, if associated with terror groups, some political parties justify such migration into India. Of course, it must not be forgotten that when they were in power at the state or central level, illegal immigration from Bangladesh in particular went on uninterrupted by such governments. It may be difficult for now to relocate such immigrants once discovered to another country, but at the least, they need to be identified and tagged, so that databases are prepared that would be of value in detection in cases where serious crimes get carried out. More than a few of the criminals committing acts such as theft of jewellery or murder escape to their country of origin. Keeping databases of illegals would assist in bringing them back to face justice, and it is to be hoped that a consensus emerges in Parliament on this issue, so that its example can serve as a model for state assemblies to follow.
It is unfortunate that there has been so much opposition to a National Registry of Citizens (NRC) prepared in India so that an accurate record of genuine citizens gets made and separates nationals from illegals. Each citizen should ideally give details of his or her parents and grandparents so that verification gets done except in the limited case of those segments of the population where traditionally such records have not been maintained. As more and more individuals move up the income and occupation ladder, such record keeping will cover almost the entire population. Given that the Rule of Law is a sine qua non of any country advancing up the ladder of development, that so many use the august forum of the legislatures to take up cudgels in favour of illegal immigration is incomprehensible. Given the fact that the number of those with roots in India is increasing, even a small number of illegals may get used by race baiters to defame Indian Americans. That the number of such illegals must be low proportionate to the legal residents is evidenced by the respect shown by everyday US citizens to those with ancestors born in India. The medical profession is a case in point. Several visitors are asked by the officials manning the immigration desk whether they are doctors. The wide reach of the American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI) is testimony to the number and quality of the doctors from India who are in the healthcare system in the US. Indeed, the US has in its own way as varied a tapestry where the diaspora is concerned as India itself has. There are associations from different states, such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha. Where matters common to all are concerned, such associations come together in a display of unity cutting across language, faith, region and lifestyles. Indian American associations developed at speed during the 1990s and are flourishing today. In the way that the US is doing, India also is seeking to protect itself against illegal immigration, a task which may be difficult but should not be considered too difficult to attempt.