Iran has deported at least 20,000 undocumented Afghan migrants in the past two weeks, according to Majid Shoja, a senior commander of the border guards in Khorasan Razavi province.
Shoja, speaking Saturday, stated the migrants entered Iran via the Dogharun border. He warned that Afghan nationals entering illegally would be arrested and returned to Afghanistan.
The deported individuals were handed over to authorities of Afghanistan’s current regime. Following the Taliban’s rise to power, hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled the country due to security and economic concerns.
Iranian officials estimate around 5 million Afghan refugees reside in Iran, many without legal documentation.
Afghan refugees in neighboring countries, including Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, have repeatedly expressed concerns over mistreatment. Last November, Pakistan reportedly repatriated over 1.73 million undocumented Afghans.
