In a continued effort to address illegal immigration, the Manipur government has deported 26 Myanmar nationals who had entered India through the state’s porous border.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who also oversees the Home Department, confirmed the action in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
“A group of 26 Myanmarese nationals who entered India through Manipur’s porous border were deported to their home country today,” Singh announced. “The government of Manipur reaffirms its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to those fleeing war, ensuring their care and dignified departure. However, the state maintains a firm stance against allowing illegal migrants to stay back in Manipur.”
The deportation was executed by the Manipur Police and central security forces in coordination with authorities in Myanmar, with the group being handed over at the border town of Moreh. A senior official from the Manipur Home Department stated that this action is part of an ongoing effort to regulate cross-border migration.
Since March 8, 2023, Manipur has deported 141 Myanmar nationals, including women and children, in four separate phases. These efforts have been carried out in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and central security forces.
Following the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, over 40,000 individuals, including women, children, and the elderly, have sought refuge in India, particularly in the northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur.
Mizoram currently hosts the majority of these refugees, with over 40,000 individuals spread across relief camps in six districts. Thousands more are living with relatives, friends, or in rented accommodations.
In Manipur, more than 6,000 Myanmar nationals are sheltering in the state’s border districts. Both Mizoram and Manipur share extensive unfenced borders with Myanmar, spanning 518 km and 400 km, respectively, making these regions particularly vulnerable to cross-border migration.
To address the influx, the Union Home Ministry directed the Manipur and Mizoram governments in 2022 to record the biometric and biographic data of all Myanmar refugees residing in their territories.
While Manipur has emphasized its commitment to humanitarian aid for those fleeing conflict, the state continues to take a firm stance against unauthorised immigration, balancing its responsibilities to international refugees with the need to maintain border security and local stability.