Member-only story
Migration Crises: A Shared Challenge for the US and Iran
Unraveling the parallels in migration policies and humanitarian challenges faced by two long-time adversaries
Migration is not merely a problem for European or North American countries; it is a global issue that affects nations with diverse economic and political landscapes. In the upcoming US election, the migration crisis is set to be one of the main rallying cries for Donald Trump. Trump proposed and partially completed his border wall project during his previous presidency. This time, he plans for a mass deportation of undocumented migrants, the likes of which have never been seen before in US history.
Interestingly, Iran has also picked up on constructing a border wall. In the last presidential election in Iran, candidate Baqer Qalibaf, who can easily be categorized as the “Iranian Trump,” proposed building a wall on Iran’s eastern borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is ironic how the US and Iran, after nearly half a century of animosity, are becoming alike, at least on migrant issues, learning from one another and facing similar migration challenges. A case in point for saying, “You become what you hate.”
Baqer Qalibaf, who can easily be categorized as the “Iranian Trump,”…
