Iran Invalidates Migrant Cards, Orders Mass Deportations

Iran Invalidates Migrant Cards, Orders Mass Deportations
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In a significant policy shift, Iran’s Ministry of Interior has declared migrant census registration cards invalid and ordered all holders to leave the country by the end of the current Persian calendar year or face forced expulsion, Afghan Amu TV reported. The cards, once recognized as identification for undocumented migrants, now provide no legal status or access to services.

The move is part of a wider crackdown on irregular migration. Iran’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs reported that over 772,000 Afghan migrants have been deported in under four months, with nearly 800,000 expelled or repatriated voluntarily since March.

The United Nations estimates that more than 1.6 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan so far this year, many facing harsh conditions. During a recent visit to Herat, Rosa Otunbayeva, U.N. Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with Taliban officials to assess the situation and coordinate aid.

Deported Afghans describe mistreatment by Iranian police and lack of basic support upon return. Humanitarian agencies warn that many deportees face shortages of food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare. The U.N. and aid groups are calling for increased international assistance to help Afghanistan manage the growing number of vulnerable returnees.