Turkey has deported 119,817 illegal migrants this year alone. Its efforts to combat illegal migration continue unabated, the Ministry of the Interior said. In a statement, the presidency said it was the largest number of deportations in Turkey’s history.
The number of deportees increased by 159% compared to the same period in 2021, the announcement added.
With the latest figures, the number of illegal migrants deported since 2016 has reached 445,326.
More than 2.7 million illegal migrants have been refused entry to Turkey since 2016, while the figure for this year alone stands at 274,311.
Turkey is a key transit point for asylum seekers seeking to cross into Europe to start a new life, particularly those fleeing war and persecution.
Turkey hosts nearly 5 million refugees – more than any other country in the world. After the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Turkey adopted an “open door policy” for people fleeing the conflict, granting them “temporary protection” status.
Afghans are believed to be the second largest refugee community in Turkey after Syrians. Many of the migrants arriving through Iran head to Istanbul to find work or illegal channels to Europe.
Photo: Migrants at the Directorate of Migration in Kocaeli Province | AA
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