Delhi Police have deported 23 foreign nationals who were found living illegally in the Dwarka district. The deportation happened after a month-long crackdown carried out through October, officials said on Thursday. DCP Dwarka, Ankit Singh, said the police will continue strict action against illegal stays and will keep pressure on those misusing the system. “Our teams are conducting regular checks. We will not allow any illegally staying foreign national to hide in the district,” he said.
Police teams from Bindapur, Dabri and Mohan Garden traced the individuals during prolonged field verification drives. Bindapur police accounted for 20 of the 23 cases. Dabri police tracked two, and Mohan Garden police traced one.
All 23 were produced before the FRRO, which later issued deportation orders. They were then sent to a detention centre, officers said.
The police said those detained were from Nigeria, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Liberia. Officers said the enforcement drive was carried out because overstaying foreign nationals put pressure on local resources and create security gaps. They said Dwarka district has seen an increase in such cases over the past few months.
The Operations Unit and police stations have been developing intelligence on foreign nationals staying in rented flats, shared rooms and temporary housing. Police teams conducted checks in residential colonies, market stretches, narrow lanes and high-density rented areas. Officers said the target was individuals who had overstayed visas or entered the country without valid documents.
Police said landlords who rented out premises without submitting tenant verification forms were also questioned. Checks were conducted early morning and late evening to track those who frequently change locations.
Of the 23 detainees, 15 were from Nigeria. Police said the Nigerian nationals were found in different pockets of Bindapur, Dabri and Mohan Garden. Four were from Senegal. Two were from the Ivory Coast. Each was from Tanzania and Liberia.
Police said the detained group included both men and women.
Police recorded the details of all foreign nationals and submitted the documentation to FRRO. Deportation orders followed after scrutiny of each case.
Officers said many of the individuals had been living in India long after the expiry of their visas. Further, police added that the district will continue with similar verification drives in the coming weeks. Officers said the crackdown is part of preventive policing and is necessary to ensure that no illegally staying individual is able to move unchecked in the region. The district police are also working with RWAs and property owners to strengthen compliance with tenant verification rules.
Officials said October’s operation is one of the largest actions against illegally staying foreign nationals in recent months. They added that more checks will be carried out as part of a sustained monitoring plan.
Officers said many of the individuals had been living in India long after the expiry of their visas
