Immigration Crackdown in India: Fear and Uncertainty Grip Bengali-Muslim Communities

A recent crackdown on illegal immigrants in India has left many Bengali-Muslim families grappling with fear, as they face detentions and forced documentation verification. While authorities claim that the actions are impartial, community members express distrust and anger, highlighting the deepening divide along class and religious lines.

In Gurugram, a prosperous suburb of Delhi known for its luxurious skyscrapers and high-end residences, a disturbing reality lurks beneath the surface. Thousands of Bengali-Muslim families, primarily composed of migrant workers engaged in menial jobs, now confront an uncertain future following a massive immigration crackdown initiated by local authorities.

This drive, which began last month, aimed to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants but has disproportionately affected the Bengali-speaking Muslim community from West Bengal. Hundreds were detained, including individuals like Ather Ali Sheikh, who spent days in holding centers despite possessing valid voter ID and national identity cards. Sheikh recounted being refused proper recognition of his documents and subjected to mistreatment while in custody.

The repercussions of these raids have rippled through the community, instilling fear and distrust among residents. Many workers fled their homes, leaving behind jobs and accumulated belongings in a desperate attempt to escape further scrutiny. Sheikh lamented, “What is it about my language or my poverty that made me a target? Why not the affluent Bengali residents?”

Despite official assurances that no specific community is being targeted, the police's narrative has done little to quell the rising anxiety among the working-class population. Amidst overflowing trash due to the exodus of local help, residents of upscale complexes, like Tabassum Bano, voiced their frustrations regarding lost aid in their daily lives.

Historically, India has experienced waves of migration across its porous borders with Bangladesh, but critics argue that the recent intensification of these crackdowns under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance represents a darker trend. The treatment of migrant communities, especially the arrests of long-standing residents—including military personnel—underscores a growing intolerance.

In Assam, authorities have been forcibly "pushing back" Bengali-Muslims, while in Delhi, hundreds have been deported based merely on suspicion. Critics have denounced these actions as discriminatory, pointing to underlying biases within the new enforcement policies that have left many uncertain of their citizenship.

As Bengali-Muslims endure these pressures, they have begun to sleep with their documents close by, a symbol of the dire need for security that was once taken for granted. Rabi-ul-Hassan, a resident of Jai Hind camp—a slum that recently lost electricity due to legal disputes about living arrangements—articulated the collective struggles, stating, “We were already fighting reality. Now, we have to add this battle too.”

Human rights advocates argue that without comprehensive refugee laws, the situation spells prolonged vulnerability for communities facing systemic oppression. For now, the atmosphere is laden with dread, as these families find themselves trapped in a relentless struggle for identity and survival amidst a backdrop of suspicion and prejudice.