A Canadian citizen named Brandon Joel Devealt was deported to his country on Friday (6th February) for overstaying his visa and being involved in evangelical activities.
Devealt has been staying in Assam on a tourist visa and was detained in Jorhat on 5th February. His visa expired on January 17, 2025.
As per reports, after his detention, the Jorhat police carried out an investigation in coordination with the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
Jorhat SP Shwetank Mishra said that Devealt was involved in proselytising activities under the Grace Church in Jorhat. “On February 4, we received information that a Canadian national, Brandon Joel Devealt, who entered India on a tourist visa, was engaging in evangelical activities in Jorhat,” said Mishra.
“Upon inquiry, it was found that he was involved in proselytisation and was operating from Grace Church located on Jail Road in the Borbheta area of Jorhat town,” he added. The authorities came to know about his evangelical activities when he applied for renewal of his visa.
Brandon Joel Devealt was running a YouTube channel for conversion
SP Mishra informed that Devealt was also running a YouTube channel to attract locals to convert to Christianity.
“He was running a YouTube channel to attract locals to convert to his religion. Although the YouTube channel has been deactivated, we have found proof against him, and action was taken accordingly,” Mishra said.
The Indian tourist visa does not permit foreigners to engage in religious proselytisation or missionary work.
Visa violations by Devealt were immediately reported to FRRO Kolkata which issued a ‘Leave India’ notice to him. The Jorhat police escorted him to Delhi from where he was put on a flight to Toronto.
As per SP Mishra, the entire deportation process was carried out following proper protocol and in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies.
Earlier in 2022, seven German nationals and three Swedish nationals were deported from Assam. In a similar fashion, they had entered India on tourist visas and were engaged in religious proselytisation.
