India and Bangladesh Clash Over Illegal Migrant Deportations

The Ministry of External Affairs of India is pressing Bangladesh to expedite the nationality verification of over 2,860 illegal immigrants, some cases of which have remained pending for over five years. India maintains that deportations must follow a structured bilateral mechanism, while the regional government in West Bengal, under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has implemented a detect, delete and deport policy to remove undocumented residents.

These diplomatic tensions escalated into physical border confrontations between June 4 and June 6, 2026. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) accused India's Border Security Force (BSF) of attempting 10 illegal push-in operations, including an effort to move 30-35 people into Jhenaidah via a prison van. The BGB reported blocking attempts to push over 70 people, including women and children, into territories such as Lalmonirhat and Chapainawabganj, leaving many stranded in neutral zones. Conversely, the BSF claimed to have thwarted an infiltration attempt by 10 Bangladeshi nationals in Cooch Behar. A major standoff at Pillar No. 134 in Panishala concluded on June 6 after approximately 40 stranded nationals returned to Bangladesh.

Parallel to these regional tensions, the Ministry of External Affairs reported that 1,076 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States so far in 2026, following a record 3,567 deportations in 2025. This surge is attributed to a crackdown on illegal migration by the administration of Donald Trump. Despite these enforcement actions, India continues high-level dialogue with the U.S. to facilitate legal migration while curbing undocumented status.