Ahmad Vahidi, serving as the Interior Minister of Iran, has recently revealed a significant development in the country’s immigration policies, disclosing that a staggering 1.3 million “illegal” migrants were deported from Iran in the preceding year. This revelation underscores Iran’s steadfast stance on unauthorized immigration, reflecting a robust approach to border management and immigration enforcement.
Reports emanating from Iranian media outlets further amplify Vahidi’s assertion, emphasizing Iran’s current position of closure to new migrants. Vahidi unequivocally states that all “unauthorized” individuals, regardless of nationality, must promptly vacate Iranian territory, signaling a stringent regulatory framework governing immigration into the country.
In particular, Vahidi singles out Afghan refugees, categorizing them as “nationals” and thereby drawing attention to the imperative need for legal reforms aimed at regulating and curbing the influx of unauthorized individuals into Iran. His remarks underscore the gravity of the situation and the exigency for comprehensive measures to address the challenges posed by irregular migration.
Echoing Vahidi’s sentiments, Asghar Bolukian, the Director-General of Foreign Nationals and Migration Affairs at Iran’s National Migration Organization, underscores the nation’s constrained capacity to accommodate Afghan migrants. Bolukian emphasizes the pressing need for the Taliban to establish secure and sustainable conditions conducive to the repatriation of Afghan migrants to their homeland. Describing Afghanistan as a nation plagued by ruin and technological backwardness, Bolukian elucidates the formidable obstacles encountered by returning migrants, thereby emphasizing the complexities inherent in the migration dynamics between Iran and Afghanistan.
In the wake of the Taliban’s ascension to power in August 2021, Iran has witnessed a notable surge in the influx of Afghan refugees seeking refuge within its borders. Despite this influx, Iran remains resolute in its enforcement of immigration laws, continuing to detain and repatriate thousands of Afghan migrants on a weekly basis. This unwavering commitment underscores Iran’s stringent approach to immigration control and border management, reflecting its determination to safeguard national security and sovereignty amidst evolving migration dynamics in the region.