Tehran Governor Announces Second Phase of Expulsion of “Illegal Migrants”

Kokcha News Agency— The governor of Tehran, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, has revealed that the second phase of the plan to expel “illegal migrants” from the capital will soon be implemented. Speaking on Monday in Pishva, a city southeast of Tehran, Motamedian urged local authorities to cooperate “seriously” with the second phase of the expulsion plan, which primarily targets Afghan migrants.

According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, Motamedian stated that a significant number of “illegal migrants” have already been expelled from the province in recent months. He claimed that this has led to a reduction in general crime, savings in flour consumption, and less crowding in bakeries.

The governor also asserted that the expulsion plan has freed up 3,000 classrooms and reduced student overcrowding. He emphasized that local officials must follow through with the second phase of the plan “with determination.”

Iran refers to Afghan migrants whose visas have expired or who lack valid documentation as “illegal.” While the exact number of Afghans expelled from Iran this year varies according to reports from the Iranian government, the Taliban, and international organizations, most estimates suggest that nearly two million Afghans have been deported from Iran in 2023.