Kolkata Correspondent – In a bid to streamline the deportation process for Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals arrested on charges of illegal entry, the BJP-led West Bengal government has taken steps to build “Holding Centers” across every district of the state.
On May 23, an emergency directive was dispatched to all District Magistrates from the Foreigners Branch at the Writers’ Building.
According to state government claims, this measure aligns with instructions from India’s Union Ministry of Home Affairs to reinforce border security and curb infiltration.
Detained individuals will be housed in these centers while their identities are verified, communication with their home countries is established, and necessary administrative formalities are finalized.
Since assuming power, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has consistently advocated a strict “Detect, Delete, Deport” strategy to tackle illegal immigration.
Under this policy framework, the state plans to first identify undocumented infiltrators, subsequently delete their names from official government records and state documents, and finally deport them back to their native countries.
Earlier in 2025, the Central Government of India issued a mandate to detect and deport undocumented immigrants. The BJP has alleged that the then-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration refused to execute those directives.
Official sources indicate that suspected Bangladeshis or Rohingyas can be detained in these “Holding Centers” for a maximum duration of 30 days. Additionally, individuals already in custody whose deportation processes are currently active will also be transferred to these centers.
The administration has clarified that there is a fundamental difference between a “Holding Center” and a traditional “Detention Center.”
Detention centers are typically long-term facilities used to hold illegal foreigners under orders from a court or a Foreigners Tribunal—similar to those utilized in Assam following the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process.
Conversely, the administration defines “Holding Centers” as temporary transit facilities designed solely to lodge detainees until the administrative steps required for deportation are completed.
Meanwhile, this decision has already sparked intense political debate. Analysts suggest that issues surrounding human rights, citizenship, border security, and immigration are poised to heavily heat up the political landscape of West Bengal once again.