The United Nations Confirms Iran’s Expulsion of Documented Afghan Refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed that the Iranian government, over the past year, has forcibly deported a significant number of Afghan migrants, even those with valid legal residency documents. The organization also stated that Iran has intensified the forced expulsion of Afghan migrants in 2024.

In a video released today, UNHCR reported the weekly deportation of thousands of Afghan migrants from Iran, noting that among them are individuals with valid residency permits. The video also revealed that over the past year, Iran has forcibly expelled more than one million Afghan refugees.

Although there have long been claims regarding the expulsion of Afghan migrants holding passports and residency visas by Iran, this marks the first time that the United Nations has officially confirmed such actions.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently announced that more than 1.2 million Afghan migrants returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in 2024. Among them, approximately 1.1 million crossed the Iranian border, 80,500 returned from Pakistan, and over 100,000 arrived via airports.

UNHCR has also noted that, in response to the accelerated expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran, it has increased the provision of services at the borders. These include immediate cash and social assistance for vulnerable individuals and families.

Anti-migrant sentiment in Iran has reached its peak in recent years. Many government officials, members of parliament, and media outlets in the country have exaggerated and employed negative and hateful language to portray Afghan migrants and refugees as a threat, thereby influencing public opinion against them.

The expulsion of refugees with valid residency documents is a clear violation of international migration laws. Expelled migrants have reported that, despite Iran charging high fees for issuing visas to Afghan citizens, its soldiers and police ignore their validity and even tear up their passports and visas.

It appears that neither protective nor preventive measures have been taken by Afghanistan’s caretaker government regarding the forced deportation of migrants, particularly those with valid residency documents, from Iran. To date, they have been unable to secure legal support for these individuals.