Iran Says 1.6 Million Afghan Migrants Deported

The Kabul Tribune (KT) - An Iranian official has said that 1.6 million undocumented Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran since the start of a government crackdown on illegal migration.

Nader Yar Ahmadi, head of Iran’s Center for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs at the Interior Ministry, told Iranian news agency ISNA that the deportations were carried out under the plan to return undocumented foreigners.

He said that around five million Afghan migrants are still living in Iran.

According to Ahmadi, Iran previously had about 6.1 million Afghan nationals in the country. After subtracting the 1.6 million deported migrants, about 4.5 million Afghans remain. He added that 400,000 to 500,000 migrants are considered a “floating population” due to continued illegal border crossings.

Ahmadi also said that the re-entry of undocumented Afghan migrants has increased recently.

Iran has intensified the forced deportation of Afghan migrants following the 12-day war with Israel.