Understanding The Policy Gap Between Immigration Laws Worldwide and in India

This paper examines India’s immigration policies through historical, legal, andcontemporary perspectives. It traces the colonial legacies of the Foreigners Act, 1946,analyzes post-independence reforms, and evaluates recent developments such as theCitizenship Amendment Act (2019) and the Immigration and Foreigners Bill (2025). A casestudy of deportation practices in Gurugram, combined with survey data, highlights publicperceptions and enforcement challenges. The findings reveal systemic gaps between India’sframework and global best practices, leading to evidence-based recommendations for amore coordinated, rights-sensitive immigration system.