NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs on Thursday raised concerns over the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025, claiming that certain provisions grant “arbitrary powers” to immigration authorities. They urged the Centre to send the Bill to a join parliamentary committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny.
Initiating the debate in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manish Tewari argued that the Bill allows the government to exempt certain foreigners from the law while granting unchecked authority to immigration officers. He criticised a provision that makes an immigration officer’s decision “final and binding” in case of disputes.
“This essentially means that there is no appeal, no argument, and no lawyer. Whatever the immigration officer decides will be absolute,” Tewari said. Comparing the Bill with immigration laws in other countries, he mentioned that the United States has immigration judges and Canada has an Immigration and Refugee Board to handle disputes. “Here, there is no such mechanism,” he added, stressing the need for safeguards.
Tewari also raised concerns over a clause that empowers immigration officers to seize passports deemed “damaged” without clearly defining the term. “This provision allows for arbitrariness and gives immigration officers unchecked power to harass individuals by declaring their passports damaged and seizing them. Worse, there is no appeal against such decisions,” he said.
Another contentious provision states that any foreigner suspected of wrongdoing can be arrested by a head constable and jailed for two to seven years. Tewari suggested that such powers should at least be given to an official of the rank of an inspector.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai supported the demand for parliamentary scrutiny, stating, “If the Bill is sent for scrutiny and returned with all necessary suggestions, it will serve the national interest and strengthen security.”
Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray also backed the demand, calling the proposed law “stringent” and arguing that it requires a detailed examination.
Other opposition MPs, including N K Premachandran (RSP), Raja Ram Singh Kushwaha (CPI-ML), Malwinder Singh Kang (AAP), Sudhakar Singh (RJD), and Sukhdeo Bhagat (Congress), echoed similar concerns. Bhagat called the Bill a “sensitive issue” that must be reviewed, while CPI(M) member K Radhakrishnan insisted it should be reconsidered.
Sasaram MP Manoj Kumar warned that several provisions of the Bill “infringe upon the fundamental rights of people.” He added, “Either it should be sent to a JPC or withdrawn.”
Premachandran said that the Bill could be “misused by authorities” and urged the government to send it to a standing or select committee for further scrutiny.
The proposed legislation seeks to streamline various immigration services, including the entry, exit, and stay of foreigners in India. It would replace the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1946.
Indian visas for foreigners are issued in physical or sticker form by Indian missions or posts abroad, while the Bureau of Immigration grants electronic visas under seven categories to nationals from 167 countries.
Additionally, visa-on-arrival is available at six designated airports for citizens of Japan, South Korea, and the UAE, with the condition that UAE nationals must have previously obtained an e-visa or a regular paper visa for India.