Biren Singh Flags Rising Illegal Immigration Concerns
Agartala, Nov 22: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said almost all Northeastern states — including Nagaland and Mizoram — have now acknowledged the escalating issue of illegal immigration and initiated strong countermeasures. This shift comes despite vocal criticism that Manipur faced when it first began identifying undocumented entrants from neighbouring Myanmar.
Digital Statement Highlights
Posting on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Singh said that Manipur cannot afford to divert attention from the core challenge of illegal immigration.
Manipur cannot afford to lose focus on the illegal immigrants issue
When we began identifying illegal immigrants and refugees from the neighbouring country during the NDA government under my leadership, there was strong criticism from leaders of nearby states. But today, every… pic.twitter.com/mBav62714T
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) November 21, 2025
He noted that although Manipur had led an early initiative under the NDA government to identify illegal migrants, many leaders from nearby states had strongly opposed the move at that time. Today, he said, those same states have acted decisively after recognising the gravity of the situation.
Regional Policy Shift
Singh referred to media reports indicating that Mizoram has made rapid progress in biometric enrollment of Myanmar refugees. He noted that while Mizoram has stepped up registration, Manipur — the state that initiated early action — has fallen silent due to the ongoing ethnic tensions that have dominated political discourse in recent months.
Allegations of Strategic Diversion
The former CM alleged that powerful interest groups are deliberately attempting to shift public focus away from the main issue of unchecked migration. According to him, both state and central leaderships risk being drawn into secondary conflicts, allowing the core threat to go unresolved.
Call for Firm Action
Singh urged the governments at both state and national levels to continue structured detection and deportation of unauthorized migrants back to their countries of origin. He questioned Manipur’s current progress, pointing out that Mizoram has already completed nearly 58% biometric verification of Myanmar refugees.
He added that the people of Manipur deserve transparency and concrete figures, warning that anti-state elements should not be allowed to derail policy focus. Singh stated that the long-term stability and security of Manipur depend on remaining focused on the underlying crisis that sparked recent unrest.
Background Data & Regional Statistics
Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, thousands of refugees — including women and children — began entering Mizoram and Manipur seeking shelter.
Approximately 31,300 refugees are estimated to be staying in Mizoram, with several thousand more in Manipur.
The Ministry of Home Affairs earlier directed both states to record biographic and biometric information of all undocumented migrants at the earliest.
Manipur began registration in 2024, while Mizoram initiated formal biometric enrolment in Serchhip district on July 30, 2025, followed by 10 additional districts.
Apart from Myanmar nationals, nearly 3,000 refugees from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts have taken shelter in three Mizoram districts: Lawngtlai, Serchhip, and Lunglei.
Mizoram authorities have verified 58.25% of Myanmar refugees, along with biometric and biographic details of around 11% of Bangladeshi refugees.
Impact Outlook
Policy analysts say that if states continue biometric identification and coordinated security monitoring, northeast India may see a more structured and tech-forward border management system in the coming years. However, political narratives and internal unrest may remain major factors affecting policy continuity.
The illegal immigration debate has entered a new phase in Northeast India, shifting from political disagreement to data-driven governance. Whether states maintain a unified and sustained focus will determine how effectively the region navigates demographic, security, and social pressures in the years ahead.
