TEHRAN — Iranian authorities have arrested more than 14,000 undocumented migrants in the province of Semnan over the past year, according to Sardar Jalil Moghoofe’i, the province’s law enforcement commander.
Moghoofe’i said that 8,200 of those detained have been deported after undergoing legal procedures.
“Since the beginning of the year, more than 14,000 foreign nationals have been arrested,” he said, according to ISNA, Iran’s state news agency. “After being transferred to camps and undergoing thorough screening, 8,200 of them have been expelled from the country following legal procedures.”
He added that during the same period, authorities arrested 156 individuals labeled as “ranked and emerging troublemakers” and sent them to prison in various districts of Semnan.
The announcement comes amid ongoing challenges for Afghan migrants in neighboring countries, including Iran and Pakistan.
The United Nations says Iran remains one of the largest host countries for Afghan migrants, with millions—both documented and undocumented—living in the country. Many face legal uncertainties, deportations, and restrictions on employment and education.
