Illegal Immigration in India: A Case of Rohingya Muslims

The Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar has triggered a refugee spillover in the neighbouring countries causing significant regional and security implications, especially for India. India faces the challenge of balancing its approach between humanitarianism and national security. The threats of extremism, transnational crimes, demographic pressure etc are exacerbated by having illegal immigrants inside our territory. India has resorted to the deportation of these immigrants by prioritising national security but at the same time, humanitarian aid and initiatives to address the plight of the Rohingya community reflect her commitment to democratic and humanitarian ideals. The paper traces the history of the crisis in Myanmar and examines how it has evolved over different phases. It also briefly discusses challenges and threats to India’s security while highlighting the efforts taken to mitigate these threats as well as to address the humanitarian plight of the community. This paper concludes by proposing how India can move forward from here ensuring a safe repatriation of the immigrants while safeguarding national security.