TEHRAN — Iranian authorities detained 115 Afghan migrants in the southeastern city of Saravan during a recent crackdown on undocumented workers, according to Hossein Ali Sancholi, the city’s police commander.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Sancholi said the arrests were part of a broader security initiative implemented over the past 72 hours to enhance public safety in the area. In addition to the Afghan migrants, authorities arrested 11 alleged thieves and 32 individuals identified as addicts during the operation.
Iranian officials frequently refer to Afghan migrants without proper documentation as “illegal immigrants,” a term that has drawn criticism from human rights advocates for its dehumanizing implications.
The arrests come as hundreds of Afghan migrant families have returned to Afghanistan in recent weeks, often under duress. According to the Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, 421 Afghan families returned from Iran and Pakistan between December 29 and January 4.
Data from the ministry show that 304 families returned from Iran during this period, while 117 came back from Pakistan. These figures cover the first five days of the week, as the Taliban has yet to release data for the remaining two days.
The Bakhtar news agency reported that 124 families entered Afghanistan through the Pul-e-Abrisham crossing in Nimroz Province, while 180 used the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat Province.
Afghans in Iran and Pakistan face increasing pressures as authorities intensify crackdowns on undocumented migrants. Many of those returning to Afghanistan cite mistreatment and harassment, including arbitrary detention, by local authorities in host countries.
