Mumbai deportations of undocumented Bangladeshis surge sixfold in 2024

The sharp increase in deportations reflects a major escalation in immigration enforcement efforts across Mumbai, India's financial capital and a major destination for undocumented migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Authorities deported over 1,066 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals through August 2024, representing a more than six-fold jump from the 164 deportations recorded in 2023. The surge indicates stepped-up operations by immigration and law enforcement agencies to identify and process illegal migrants for removal.

The rise in deportations comes amid ongoing concerns about irregular migration patterns in major Indian cities, where undocumented migrants from Bangladesh often seek employment in informal sectors. Mumbai, with its large informal economy and dense migrant population, has long been identified as a key hub for such migration flows.

The escalated enforcement activity suggests increased coordination between central and state-level agencies responsible for border security and internal migration management. Officials have not publicly detailed the specific operational strategies behind the heightened pace of deportations.