RASC News Agency: Iran’s Interior Minister, Ahmad Wahidi, recently revealed that approximately 400,000 undocumented immigrants have been expelled from Iran and sent back to their respective countries. This announcement was made during a conversation with reporters on November 29th, as reported by the Fars news agency.
Wahidi acknowledged the lack of sufficient deterrent laws to prevent the re-entry of deported illegal immigrants. He emphasized the need to address this issue and find a solution. In an effort to differentiate between immigrants with a residence permit and those without, the minister proposed the issuance of an ID instead of an identity card. This ID would allow immigrants to continue their activities in Iran while clearly identifying their status.
It is important to note that obtaining citizenship through identity cards is a complex process with its own set of rules and complications. Wahidi emphasized that citizenship would not be granted quickly, except for individuals with special status as defined by the law. Currently, the majority of undocumented immigrants in Iran are Afghanistani citizens, with an estimated population of five million.
Moreover, this news of deportation comes in the wake of reports from Pakistani media stating that over 257,000 undocumented Afghanistani asylum seekers were deported from Pakistan and sent back to Afghanistan. The forced deportation of undocumented Afghanistani asylum seekers from neighboring countries has sparked concerns and reactions from international organizations, which have repeatedly warned about the potential consequences of such actions.
