Tehran, Iran — An Iranian official said this week that the identification and removal of undocumented migrants is a top government priority, signaling a renewed crackdown on foreign nationals, many of whom are Afghans.
Mohammad Taghi Asadollahi, the deputy governor of Fardis city, called for stricter oversight of businesses employing undocumented migrants and urged greater cooperation among government agencies.
“One of the priorities is the identification and collection of illegal foreigners, and the relevant agencies must take effective measures in this regard through cooperation and synergy,” Asadollahi said, according to the Tasnim News Agency.
Iran has consistently emphasized the expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants. The United Nations estimates that more than 3 million Afghans are currently living in Iran, many without legal status.
A 2022 report by the U.N. refugee agency said that the Iranian government conducted a headcount of all undocumented Afghan nationals following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Through that process, approximately 2.6 million Afghans were registered, while Iranian officials said about 500,000 others did not participate.
Since the political upheaval in Afghanistan in 2021, an estimated 1 million Afghans have fled to Iran, sharply increasing the demand for international protection and humanitarian support.
