Deported migrants from Iran. File photo.
Mohammad Reza Babaei, the governor of Iran’s Yazd province, said the key to addressing the influx of Afghan migrants into Iran lies in strengthening border management. His remarks come as Iran continues mass deportations of undocumented Afghans.
According to Iranian media reports, Babaei said the “organization of foreign nationals entering the country through border provinces will be a solution to these challenges.” Iranian officials often refer to undocumented Afghan migrants as “unauthorized foreign nationals.”
Referring to growing public concerns, Babaei said Iran’s Ministry of Interior had taken major steps over the past year to regulate the presence of foreign nationals.
He called for the establishment of needed infrastructure for the General Directorate of Foreign Nationals in Yazd and for organizing migrant guesthouses in nearby cities.
Iran has stepped up deportations of Afghans in recent weeks, particularly following a 12-day conflict with Israel earlier this year. Authorities in Khorasan Razavi province say 80% of undocumented Afghan migrants residing there have been deported via the Dogharun border crossing.
Amirullah Shamghadri, the province’s deputy governor for security and law enforcement, said a biometric tracking system for registering entries and exits at Dogharun has been completed and will be operational soon. He said the system will allow real-time monitoring of Afghan migrants throughout the province, aiding in enforcement and deportation efforts.
The crackdown reflects long-standing concerns in Tehran about the social and economic strain posed by undocumented migrants, though rights groups have warned of growing risks faced by returnees.