Twenty-two African women, including trafficking victims and refugees, are being held indefinitely in India's immigration detention centres, where they allege filthy conditions, beatings, and lack of medical care, according to interviews with The Guardian. Many have been detained for months or years with no timeline for release and no access to lawyers.
HIV-positive Kenyan woman fears death sentence
Mary, a 55-year-old Kenyan mother of four, has been held in a detention centre for nine months without antiretroviral drugs for her HIV. Her legs are swollen, her blood pressure has soared, and she has collapsed from weakness. 'If I don't get my tablets, I may become bedridden. And then no airline will take me home,' she said. She was lured to India in September 2023 by a woman who promised well-paid work; she was arrested in Bengaluru with cocaine in her bag. After serving a two-year sentence, she was transferred to a detention centre. She described a 36-year-old Ugandan woman with HIV who died in the same centre three months ago.
Trafficking survivors and children in cages
Lily, a 27-year-old Ugandan survivor of sex trafficking, has been held since April 2025 after police raided her home at 3am. Her two sons, aged two and four, live in filth with constant mosquito bites. 'Instead of being in schools, they are growing up in a cage,' she said. Lily was trafficked into the sex trade in Karnataka in 2019 and escaped, but was arrested for visa issues. She has no access to her passport or legal paperwork.
Operation Clean Sweep targets African nationals
In 2025, a coordinated police crackdown called Operation Clean Sweep targeted African nationals in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, and other states. Human rights activists say many of those held are long-term victims of trafficking, refugees, or people with pending legal cases. Liyi Marli Noshi, a lawyer, said the legal system fails to recognise victims as victims: 'When African nationals are detained, the first assumption is that they are illegal migrants.'
Nigerian woman beaten, cheated
Yuvi, a 24-year-old Nigerian, was lured to India in September 2024 with a promise of a hairdressing job but was forced into sex work and told to pay 3.5 million naira (£1,900) for her freedom. After escaping, she worked as a hairdresser until police stopped her in May 2025 for an expired visa. She said she paid 20,000 rupees (£160) to a centre officer for help with a ticket home, but was still stranded months later. The same officer beat her with a stick, she said, showing photographs of her injuries. 'I keep thinking of killing myself,' she said.
No response from authorities
The Guardian sought comment from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, the home affairs and external affairs ministries, the Ugandan high commission, and the Delhi police, but received no response. Nirmala Walter, founder of anti-trafficking organisation Manobal, said children born in India to trafficking survivors face prejudice, lack of documentation, limited healthcare, and social exclusion. 'These children are losing their basic right to education,' she said.
