Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 Clears Rajya Sabha Despite Opposition Protests

In a significant legislative move, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 through a voice vote amid a dramatic opposition walkout. The Bill, which seeks to regulate the entry, stay, and movement of foreigners in India, replaces four outdated laws governing immigration. It had been approved by the Lok Sabha last week.

Opposition Criticizes the Bill as Unconstitutional

The parliamentary debate saw participation from 26 members, with opposition leaders strongly criticizing the provisions of the Bill. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the legislation is stringent, unconstitutional, and promotes a sense of suspicion toward foreigners.

“This Bill sends a message that all foreigners are potential criminals. It assumes foreigners have no rights under the Indian Constitution, which is a deeply flawed assumption,” Singhvi remarked. He further claimed that the Bill grants excessive authority to immigration officers without providing an appeals mechanism for aggrieved individuals.

Several opposition leaders, including DMK’s N R Elango, SP’s Jaya Bachchan, and IUML’s Haris Beeran, raised concerns over the Bill’s stringent provisions. Beeran referred to it as a “snooper’s paradise”, warning that the legislation enables extensive surveillance of foreigners from the moment they enter India. Meanwhile, NCP’s Fouzia Khan and Jaya Bachchan sought a clearer definition of foreigners, refugees, and illegal immigrants under the new legal framework.

Government Defends the Bill, Cites National Security

Defending the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai emphasized the need for modernized immigration laws. He pointed out that the existing laws predate India’s independence and are scattered across different legal texts.

“The government has undertaken a deep study over the past three years to craft this legislation. Our goal is to strengthen national security while ensuring ease of travel for those coming to India for education, tourism, research, or development work,” Rai said.

Rai assured that India welcomes all visitors arriving with good intentions, but will not tolerate individuals conspiring against national interests. “If someone is studying here or undergoing medical treatment, they must provide their details online. Earlier, records were not maintained, and we had no way of tracking their whereabouts,” he stated.

Political Rifts Deepen Over Border Infiltration Claims

The debate turned heated when Rai accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal and the Congress party of aiding illegal infiltration. He alleged that the TMC government deliberately stalled border fencing efforts by refusing land grants, compromising national security.

This remark prompted TMC MPs and other opposition members to stage a walkout in protest. However, BJP’s Lahar Singh Siroya defended the Bill, stating that it would curb the widespread infiltration problem and clamp down on the creation of fake identity and ration cards. BJP’s Bhubaneswar Kalita hailed the legislation as “revolutionary,” saying that it replaces an archaic system with a streamlined, robust framework.

Bill Empowers Government on Immigration Decisions

A key feature of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 is its provision granting the central government the authority to refuse entry or deport foreigners based on concerns related to national security, sovereignty, public health, and foreign relations. Opposition members fear this broad power could be misused, allowing arbitrary denials and deportations without an appeals mechanism.

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