The campaign follows a landslide electoral victory by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP in West Bengal, where the party pledged to “detect, delete and deport” illegal migrants.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Sunday that 4,800 Bangladeshi citizens had already been deported after being held in newly established detention facilities across the state.

“We have started the work of deporting Bangladeshi infiltrators who do not fall under the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act,” Adhikari told reporters in Kolkata.

He said the government established holding centers in every district during May and that a further 836 people were currently being held pending deportation.

India and Bangladesh share a long and porous border, and migration between the two countries has historically been driven by economic opportunities, family ties and cross-border cultural links.

The new state administration has also ordered detention measures for Rohingya refugees, members of a predominantly Muslim minority who fled persecution in neighboring Myanmar.

The deportation drive has renewed debate over immigration and citizenship in one of India’s most politically sensitive border regions.

Senior BJP leaders have frequently described undocumented migrants as “infiltrators,” arguing that illegal migration places pressure on public resources and alters demographic balances.

Critics, including civil rights advocates and opposition groups, contend that the government’s rhetoric and enforcement measures disproportionately affect Muslim communities and risk undermining due process protections. Human rights organizations have previously accused Indian authorities of forcibly expelling Bengali-speaking Muslims without adequate legal review.

The crackdown comes as diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh continue to recover from tensions that emerged after the 2024 political upheaval in Dhaka, which ended the rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close partner of New Delhi.

A new government elected in Bangladesh in February has sought to stabilize ties with India. Border security chiefs from both countries are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Monday to discuss cross-border issues, including migration and security cooperation.

“They can’t do anything—it’s like they’re kidnapped there. We, their family members, want to help, but it’s not in our hands.”

Relatives of immigrants detained at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in New Jersey say they are increasingly concerned about the wellbeing of their loved ones as a hunger and labor strike over alleged conditions inside the center enters its third week, drawing protests, political scrutiny and competing claims from detainees, government officials and the facility’s private operator.

At the center of those concerns is Elder Guerra, a Guatemalan immigrant who has been held at Delaney Hall for nearly five months while contesting his deportation case. According to a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, Guerra suffered a serious fall in mid-May while showering inside the facility.

The relative said Guerra slipped, struck the back of his head and lost consciousness before experiencing a seizure. Other detainees reportedly urged guards to seek emergency medical assistance before Guerra was transported to a hospital.

He was later returned to Delaney Hall and placed in a medical isolation unit.Nearly three weeks after the incident, the relative said Guerra continues to experience severe headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, fatigue and hearing problems in one ear.”He needs medical attention.

He’s not in an adequate place to recover,” the relative said.The case has become one of several cited by detainees, advocates and family members who accuse authorities and facility operators of failing to provide adequate medical care and humane living conditions at Delaney Hall, a detention center operated by the private prison company GEO Group under contract with federal immigration authorities.

The facility has become the focus of mounting controversy since detainees launched a hunger and labor strike on May 22. Participants say the action was prompted by concerns over medical treatment, food quality, sanitation, drinking water and living conditions.

According to a letter released by detainees on May 31, those held inside the facility described what they called conditions “not fit for human beings over such a long period of time.”The letter alleged medical neglect, contaminated drinking water, expired food, unusable bathrooms and poorly maintained ventilation systems that detainees claim have contributed to frequent illness.

The detainees also demanded faster processing of immigration cases, the release of elderly and sick detainees, a meeting with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and an end to what they described as pressure from immigration officials to sign deportation documents.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to detailed requests for comment cited in the report.As attention surrounding the facility has intensified, demonstrations outside Delaney Hall have expanded.

Protesters have accused federal authorities and facility staff of mistreating detainees, while law enforcement agencies have responded to demonstrations with crowd-control measures that have included pepper spray, tear gas, arrests and the use of Tasers, according to accounts from participants and observers.

Family members arriving for visits described emotional encounters with relatives held inside the detention center.Guerra’s relative said his detained family member repeatedly pleaded for assistance during a recent visit following the accident.”He kept telling me, ‘Help me.

I need to leave here,'” the relative said.The emotional strain has extended beyond those detained. Family members interviewed outside the facility described anxiety, frustration and uncertainty as they navigate changing visitation rules while attempting to support relatives facing immigration proceedings.

Christopher Castro, who traveled with his mother from Long Island to visit his father, said detainees were increasingly seeking legal avenues to secure release.”My dad told me that a lot of people inside are pushing their lawyers to get them out,” Castro said after a visit.

Many families expressed concern that participation in the hunger strike could result in retaliation. Several detainees have reportedly chosen not to join the protest because they fear transfers, disciplinary measures or adverse effects on their immigration cases.

Those concerns have been amplified by allegations contained in detainees’ public statements.In their latest letter, strike participants claimed that since the protest began they had faced intimidation, discrimination and threats from both facility staff and immigration authorities.

Detainees alleged they had been threatened with deportation, transfer to other detention centers and placement in disciplinary housing units.GEO Group rejected those allegations.”GEO strongly refutes these allegations,” a company spokesperson said, stating that the facility provides around-the-clock medical care, legal and family visitation, translation services, religious accommodations and meals approved by dietitians.

The company referred questions regarding individual detainee cases to federal authorities.The dispute over conditions at Delaney Hall has unfolded amid broader national debate over immigration enforcement policies and detention practices.Federal officials have frequently described those arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as serious offenders.

However, a recent review of ICE data conducted by Syracuse University researcher Austin Kocher found that the overwhelming majority of detainees held at Delaney Hall had no criminal convictions.According to Kocher’s analysis of mid-March detention data, approximately 88% of detainees held at the facility had no criminal conviction, while more than 70% had no criminal history at all.

Among those with convictions, many were associated with relatively low-level offenses.The findings have become a focal point for advocates who argue that public portrayals of immigration detainees often differ from available government data.

The controversy has also drawn the attention of elected officials. Oversight visits conducted by members of Congress and state officials have reportedly identified conditions consistent with complaints raised by detainees and their advocates.

One of the most visible activists connected to the protests is Gabriela Soto, whose husband Martin was detained at Delaney Hall before being transferred to another ICE facility. Soto said visits to the detention center motivated her to become involved in organizing demonstrations.”Once I started going to the visits and started seeing these people tell their stories, it made me so angry that they don’t have a voice,” she said.

Soto cited reports from detainees alleging spoiled food and unsanitary conditions as key reasons for her activism.Federal officials have repeatedly rejected allegations that detention conditions at Delaney Hall are inadequate.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied claims that detainees are being held in what it describes as “sub-prime” conditions and has similarly disputed comparable allegations involving other immigration detention facilities.Delaney Hall occupies a significant position within the federal detention system.

Operated by GEO Group, the largest private prison company in the United States, the facility is covered by a contract valued at approximately $1 billion over 15 years.For many families, however, the political debate remains secondary to concerns about loved ones inside the facility.

Guerra’s relative said he has hesitated to return for another visit after learning that visitors were being asked to provide identifying information before entering the center. He remains focused on securing medical treatment and legal assistance for his detained family member.”What is happening is inhumane,” he said. “They should have mercy. They’re human beings.”

The report found that some parents covered by a 2023 court settlement were detained or deported during the administration’s expanded immigration enforcement campaign, resulting in renewed family separations. Attorneys representing affected families said several deportations occurred despite legal safeguards intended to prevent such actions.

One case involved 11-year-old Ederson Galicia Alva, who was separated from his mother at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018 and later reunited. In 2025, his mother was detained and deported to Guatemala, forcing the family to leave the United States before a federal judge ordered their return last month.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which led the lawsuit that ended the original family separation policy, said the renewed separations have caused further trauma to children and families already affected by earlier government actions.

The Department of Homeland Security said it complies with court orders and defended its immigration enforcement efforts, arguing that deportations and detentions are carried out under existing law.

The findings highlight renewed legal and political scrutiny of the administration’s immigration policies as federal authorities pursue large-scale deportation operations across the country.

The Bamy Hotel on Bioko Island, owned by the family of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has housed at least 32 deportees since late 2025, many of whom had previously received protection orders from U.S. immigration judges, the report said. Most have since been deported to African countries they fled, despite fears of persecution.

Migrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Angola and Mauritania described psychological pressure, restricted movement and uncertainty over their fate while being held inside the largely empty hotel. Several detainees told AP they feared imprisonment or death if returned home.

The Trump administration has expanded third-country deportation agreements with developing nations as part of its immigration crackdown. Rights advocates argue the policy circumvents asylum protections by transferring migrants to countries with poor human rights records.

Washington declined to comment on details of the arrangement with Equatorial Guinea, while the State Department said it remained committed to ending “illegal and mass immigration.” Equatorial Guinea’s government did not respond to requests for comment

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The oil-rich Central African nation, ruled by Obiang for more than four decades, has long faced criticism from rights groups and U.S. officials over allegations of corruption, repression and abuses against dissidents.

The accusations emerged after hundreds of participants from the Global Sumud Flotilla arrived in Türkiye and other European countries following their deportation from Israel. The flotilla, comprising around 50 vessels, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters roughly 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Israel’s coast while attempting to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

According to accounts provided by activists and journalists, detainees were transferred from their vessels to military boats and then taken to the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, where they were allegedly held in shipping containers and subjected to physical abuse.

Several detainees told media outlets they were punched, kicked, dragged, restrained for extended periods and denied access to lawyers or consular representatives. Some also alleged that tasers and attack dogs were used during the detention process.

Among those making allegations was Turkish activist Zeynel Abidin Ozkan, who said detainees were forced to keep their heads lowered while handcuffed and were subjected to rough treatment after refusing to sign documents presented by authorities.

American activist Christopher Boren said he suffered facial injuries after being struck shortly after arriving at Ashdod port, while Italian journalist Alessandro Mantovani described being blindfolded, restrained and physically handled during transfers between vessels and detention facilities.

Greek activist Yiannis Atmatzidis also alleged he was beaten and subjected to a taser discharge during processing procedures.

The claims have drawn international attention, particularly after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appeared in a widely circulated video involving detained flotilla participants.

The footage prompted criticism from several foreign governments, some of which reportedly summoned Israeli diplomats to discuss concerns over the treatment of detainees.

Israeli authorities have rejected the allegations. Israeli Prison Service spokesperson Zivan Freidin described the accusations as “false and entirely without factual basis.”

The flotilla’s organizers said the mission was intended to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza and challenge restrictions imposed under Israel’s blockade. Israeli authorities maintain that maritime restrictions are part of security measures aimed at preventing weapons and military supplies from reaching militant groups operating in the territory.

The competing accounts are likely to intensify international scrutiny of Israel’s handling of foreign activists and humanitarian missions linked to Gaza, while adding to broader diplomatic tensions surrounding the conflict.

Shaath, 54, said in a video statement released on May 14 that French officials had initiated deportation proceedings against him on the basis that he posed a threat to public security. He said the measures formed part of what he described as a broader effort to silence Palestinian voices and supporters of the Palestinian cause in France.

France’s Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations or the legal basis for the proposed deportation.
Shaath said the move followed administrative difficulties related to renewing his French residency permit despite longstanding family ties in France.

He also alleged that French authorities or associated institutions had closed his bank account and suspended his health insurance coverage, affecting his ability to travel, work and access medical care.
He said he and his family planned to challenge the proceedings in French and European courts.

Shaath helped establish the pro-Palestinian organization Urgence Palestine after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. He has been a prominent advocate of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel and has linked Palestinian activism with broader opposition to authoritarian governance in the Arab world.

Born to Egyptian and Palestinian parents, Shaath founded the Egyptian branch of the BDS movement in 2014. Egyptian authorities arrested him in 2019, and he remained in detention for more than two years before being released in January 2022.

Following his release, Shaath told The Associated Press that Egyptian authorities had never formally charged him. He said he was initially held in overcrowded conditions before later being isolated in a windowless detention cell.

French President Emmanuel Macron publicly welcomed Shaath’s release from Egyptian custody in 2022.

Shaath is married to a French citizen and has a French-Palestinian daughter. His case emerges as European governments face mounting tensions over balancing domestic security concerns with protections for political activism tied to the conflict in Gaza.

Venezuela’s immigration authority said in a brief statement that Saab’s deportation was linked to ongoing criminal investigations in the United States, although officials did not explicitly confirm his destination. The statement referred to Saab solely as a Colombian citizen, an apparent acknowledgment of Venezuelan constitutional restrictions prohibiting the extradition of Venezuelan nationals.

Saab, 54, was previously released and returned to Venezuela in 2023 after former U.S. President Joe Biden granted him clemency as part of a prisoner exchange between Washington and Caracas.The businessman had long been regarded by U.S. authorities as a key financial operator for Maduro’s government, helping manage overseas commercial networks and sanctions-sensitive transactions.

Maduro’s administration had described Saab as a diplomat carrying out humanitarian missions when he was detained during a 2020 refueling stop in Cape Verde while traveling to Iran.The latest move follows major political upheaval in Venezuela after Maduro’s removal from power earlier this year and the emergence of acting President Delcy Rodriguez as the country’s interim leader.

According to reports, Rodríguez removed Saab from his government positions after assuming office on Jan. 3, stripping him of influence over foreign investment channels tied to the Venezuelan state. Unconfirmed reports in recent months suggested Saab had been under detention or restricted movement inside Venezuela.

The Associated Press reported in February that U.S. federal prosecutors had intensified scrutiny of Saab’s alleged role in a bribery scheme linked to Venezuelan food import contracts under the government’s CLAP distribution program.The investigation reportedly stems from a 2021 U.S. Justice Department case involving Saab associate Alvaro Pulido.

Prosecutors in Miami have examined allegations surrounding contracts tied to the CLAP system, which was created to distribute subsidized food staples to Venezuelans during years of economic collapse, hyperinflation and shortages.

U.S. authorities have alleged that Saab accumulated substantial wealth through government-linked contracts and opaque financial arrangements connected to Venezuela’s state apparatus.The U.S. Justice Department did not immediately comment on Saturday’s deportation announcement.

The court’s brief and unsigned order did not provide reasoning, as is typical in emergency rulings. However, two liberal justices — Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor — issued a sharp dissent. Justice Jackson accused the majority of “botching” the legal balancing test, warning of “devastating consequences” for over 500,000 migrants who now face the threat of deportation.

The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program had offered a two-year safe haven to people fleeing political turmoil, economic collapse, or natural disasters in their home countries. Critics of the administration’s policy say the sudden revocation could lead to the largest mass removal of legal residents in modern U.S. history.

Economic Impact and Humanitarian Concerns

Advocates and labor unions underscored the critical role these migrants play in the American economy, particularly in essential industries such as healthcare, construction, and manufacturing. At one auto parts factory, nearly one in five workers is reportedly under the TPS program.

“These are people who stepped up to support our economy during national shortages,” said one union representative. “Now the government is pulling the rug from under them.”

City governments and counties that have welcomed TPS holders joined legal challenges, citing potential “severe economic and societal harms” if the deportations proceed.

A Battle Between Executive Power and Judicial Oversight

The Trump administration maintains that the migrants’ continued presence is “against national interests,” and argues that courts have no authority to interfere. The Department of Homeland Security insists that the program, originally expanded by the Biden administration as a deterrent to illegal crossings, has instead backfired — encouraging more arrivals and straining immigration enforcement efforts.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, speaking earlier this year at a border security summit in Phoenix, stated that the administration is determined to “restore lawful order and national sovereignty.”

However, federal courts have shown resistance. A district judge in Massachusetts, Indira Talwani, ruled that early termination of TPS protections must be assessed individually, rather than through a mass cancellation. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, temporarily halting the administration’s plan.

The Biden-era policy, now under attack, had sought to stabilize migration patterns by offering legal pathways to those escaping crises — a contrast to Trump’s strategy of swift deportation and tightened border enforcement.

Looking Ahead

Immigration rights groups are expected to continue legal challenges, with the case likely to return to the courts in full. In the meantime, over half a million people now face deep uncertainty about their futures in the U.S.

For families, employers, and communities across the country, the court’s decision marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s immigration debate — one that intertwines humanitarian responsibilities with questions of law, sovereignty, and national identity.

A “Notice to Appear” (NTA) was sent by ICE, marking the initial phase of a deportation process. The email, reportedly received by Taal’s legal team on Friday, invited him to present himself at the Homeland Security Investigations Office in Syracuse at a mutually agreed time for formal service of the NTA and surrender to ICE custody.

Taal’s attorneys have strongly condemned the development, labeling it an attack on free speech. They emphasized that their client had already taken legal action to prevent the deportation of foreign protesters, highlighting concerns over political retaliation. Taal has also claimed he was doxxed for his activism.

This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s hardline stance on foreign pro-Hamas demonstrators. Trump has previously vowed to deport such protesters, asserting they support Hamas and hold antisemitic views. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, reject this characterization, arguing that their advocacy for Palestinian rights is distinct from support for Hamas or antisemitism.

Taal was previously disciplined by Cornell University after he and other activists disrupted a career fair that included defense industry recruiters. Following this incident, he was ordered to continue his studies remotely.

ICE has not provided a timeline for Taal’s potential deportation and has yet to issue an official comment.

Taal’s case is not an isolated one. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student, was arrested earlier this month and is challenging his detention. Trump has publicly accused Khalil, without evidence, of supporting Hamas. Similarly, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian student at Georgetown University, was detained this week. His lawyer has denied any connection to Hamas, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation.

The administration’s intensified deportation efforts have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, which argue that these actions infringe upon free speech and the right to protest. The legal battles surrounding these cases are expected to continue as advocacy groups rally in support of the affected students.

These individuals have been instructed to leave the country before their permits and deportation protections are terminated on April 24, as per a federal notice.

The affected migrants were admitted under a Biden-era sponsorship initiative known as CHNV, which aimed to provide legal pathways for migration. However, Trump suspended the program upon assuming office.

It remains uncertain how many of these migrants have secured alternative legal status that would allow them to stay in the U.S.

Background of the CHNV Program

Initiated in 2022 under Democratic President Joe Biden, the CHNV program initially focused on Venezuelans before expanding to include additional nationalities. The initiative allowed eligible migrants and their immediate family members to enter the U.S. with American sponsors and remain for two years under a temporary immigration status called parole.

The Biden administration had advocated that CHNV would reduce illegal border crossings while ensuring thorough vetting of entrants. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized the program, stating it had not met its intended goals.

In a statement, DHS officials accused the previous administration of using the program to facilitate job competition between migrants and American workers, compelling civil servants to support the initiative despite evidence of fraud, and blaming congressional Republicans for subsequent border issues.

Potential Exceptions and Further Policy Changes

While the Federal Register’s 35-page notice confirmed the program’s termination, it suggested that some CHNV recipients might be permitted to stay on a case-by-case basis.

Trump is also reportedly reviewing the temporary legal status of approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge in the U.S. during Russia’s invasion.

The CHNV program had allowed:

213,000 Haitians to enter the U.S. amid worsening conditions in their homeland.

120,700 Venezuelans, 110,900 Cubans, and over 93,000 Nicaraguans to seek refuge before Trump ended the initiative.

Termination of Other Immigration Protections

Last month, DHS announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians as of August 2025. TPS, a designation for nationals from countries facing extreme conditions such as armed conflict or natural disasters, had also been revoked for Venezuelans, though this decision is currently facing legal challenges.

Since taking office in January, Trump’s immigration policies have encountered several legal obstacles, raising questions about the long-term future of these measures and their broader impact on affected migrant communities.