Ramazan Seçilmen, Director General of Combating Irregular Migration and Deportation Affairs of the Directorate of Migration Management, said, “As of yesterday, 109.816 irregular migrants have been deported this year. This was the most deportation year in a year for us. In that sense, we broke a record.” said.
Mr. He held a press briefing at the Akyurt Removal Center, one of the removal centers where selected irregular migrants are housed until their deportation process is completed after being caught by law enforcement.
Indicating that removal centers had a capacity of 2015 people in 1.740, Seçilme said that as of this year, the person capacity of 30 removal centers reached 20.540.
Elected, “Currently, there are approximately 18.000 irregular migrants in our removal centres.” said.
Voicing that Turkey has been continuing its fight against irregular migration within the framework of the 2015 strategic priorities in the Strategy Document for Combating Irregular Migration and the National Action Plan since 4, Seçilmis gave the following information on these strategic priorities:
“Our primary goal is to carry out activities aimed at stopping irregular migration at its source. We have taken very serious measures at the border. This year, there is a 36 percent decrease in pressure on our borders. In other words, there is a 36 percent decrease in the number of foreigners we block at our borders compared to last year. There is a 20 percent decrease in the number of irregular migrants apprehended in Van. We are making effective captures within the country. We caught 2019 thousand foreigners in 454, these numbers decreased due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reaching 122 thousand and 162 thousand. This year, we caught 263 irregular migrants. When we exclude duplication, this figure is 136.”
Stating that they have established an effective and healthy repatriation system, Seçilme said, “Our deportation success rate, which was 2016 percent in 9, has reached 65 percent this year when we exclude Syrians and duplication. When we take into account the 18 thousand foreigners who will be deported at the removal centres, we have a deportation success rate of up to 70 percent.” said.
We Deported 61.617 People to Afghanistan and 12.914 People to Pakistan
Mr. He said, “In 2019, we deported 107 thousand irregular migrants. The year that was deported the most was 2019. As of yesterday, 109 irregular migrants have been deported this year. This was the most deportation year in a year for us. In that sense, we broke a record.” used the phrases.
He shared the information that they organized 230 charter flights to Afghanistan this year, and said that they sent 61 thousand 617 Afghan nationals to their country and they had a success rate of about 70 percent in deporting foreigners from this nationality.
Elected stated that the number of Pakistani foreigners deported this year is 12, adding that they have organized 914 charter flights to Pakistan this year and their success rate in deporting foreigners from this nationality is 2 percent.
Emphasizing that Turkey is the most successful country in the world in terms of repatriation and deportation success, Mr. Chosen said:
“Let me state that these rates are around 10 percent in European Union countries. We do not compromise on our human-oriented migration management approach in deportation procedures. As our success rates in these deportations increase, we are faced with unfair accusations about removal centers from time to time. We see some claims about our removal centres, by those who do not speak up and turn a blind eye to the inhuman treatment of both Greece and the European Union. We totally reject these allegations. Let me give you a number, 2020 migrants have lost their lives due to Greek pushbacks since 170.”
“The Republic of Turkey does not send anyone in need of protection”
Noting that all the basic needs of irregular migrants are met, they are treated with respect for human rights and they are not subjected to ill-treatment at the removal centres, Seçmiş said, “The Republic of Turkey does not send anyone who is in need of protection or who will face the danger of persecution or death when sent to their country. It provides them with the necessary protection. Our struggle is to repatriate illegal immigrants in our country who are not in need of this protection.” he said.
Seçmiş also gave information about the deportation procedures of irregular migrants and said, “Our detention period in removal centers for deportation procedures is 6 months, 6+12. During this time, we have to deport the foreigner. The most important element regarding the deportation of the foreigner is whether there is a travel document or not. If there is a travel document, there are periods to wait in the law, such as the time to file a lawsuit. We will deport immediately after 7 days after these times are followed. If the foreigner is also a volunteer, we can send it before 7 days with a waiver petition.” he said.
Pointing out that the process works differently in the absence of a travel document, Seçilmis said, “We have provided technical developments in determining the nationality of the foreigner, let me express that here as well. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs started to take fingerprints when issuing visas in 78 countries. Even if an irregular migrant hides his nationality when he comes to the country or states that he is from another nationality, we can easily identify his nationality with a fingerprint match.” said.
“We Procure the Travel Document and Send it to the Country”
When asked about the deportation of selected people who crossed the border illegally after being caught, he said, “Afghans and Pakistanis who enter our country illegally are generally on our eastern borders. After determining his real identity after a detailed interview, we contact the consulate and obtain the travel document of the person and send it to his country.” he said.
Stating that a mechanism was established between Turkey and Pakistan in 2019, Mr. Seçil stated that they shared the fingerprint data of all Pakistanis captured in Turkey with the Pakistani authorities, and that the person concerned was deported by providing them with a travel document after the information confirmation was made in a short time.
He also said that with the biometric data sharing method established with Morocco and Algeria, there has been a significant increase in the deportation rates of those who are citizens of these two countries and are apprehended in Turkey.
“The Rate Regarding the Return of Foreigners We Have Deported to Turkey 0,01 Percent”
Noting that a foreigner apprehended by Turkey is registered in the common irregular migration database, and that they can see the duplication in the event that they are caught again later, Seçilmis said, “The duplication rate for the foreigners we deported to come back to Turkey is only 0,01 percent.” gave the information.
Voicing that the deportation process of foreigners is a costly business, Seçilmis noted that this cost is not only covered by the national budget, it is essential that the expenses of the deported foreigner be covered by himself in accordance with the relevant law, and that some countries and international organizations with which he cooperates also cover the travel expenses.
He explained that not only foreigners violating visas and residence in the removal centers are kept, but also foreigners who are inconvenient in terms of public order and security, and they are then deported.
Noting that every foreigner, without exception, who disrupts public order and security or is released from prison, is handed over to removal centers for deportation, Seçmiş said that they deported even the Australians who were stripped of their citizenship in the past.
State of Deterioration of International Protection Status
To the question about whether Syrians are included in the number of 219 irregular migrants caught this year, free of duplication, Seçmiş gave the following answer:
“Syrians are treated by law enforcement for two reasons. First, he has committed a crime, disturbed public order and security, entered the prison, so irregular migration is recorded in the common database. A deportation decision is made for these Syrians and they are taken to the removal centre. Syrians are taken to the removal center as soon as they are involved in crime. Secondly, Syrians who are normally registered in our country, under temporary protection, but trying to cross into Europe, pushed back by Greece, and caught by the law enforcement in the West without success, are also recorded in the irregular migration common database, but we do not make a deportation decision regarding these Syrians. Because this person is a Syrian under temporary protection in the country and has international protection status.
When is international protection status revoked? When it is inconvenient for public order and safety. Their status is canceled when they commit a crime, their status is not canceled when they are caught illegally, they are directed to the provinces where they are registered, and they are subject to signature conviction. If they don't comply with the three-time signature obligation, then they can go up to a point where their status is revoked.”
Removal Center Introduced to the Press
Seçil toured the removal center with journalists after her statement.
The fingerprints of the irregular migrants caught by the law enforcement and brought to the removal center are first taken and matched with the data in the database.
Then, the prohibited items of the immigrants whose clothes and belongings are searched with hand detectors and X-ray devices are taken into custody with a report.
Basic necessities are delivered to irregular migrants whose other information, including their special health conditions, is recorded.
Within the scope of security measures, excluding rooms, toilets and bathrooms, the center, which is monitored 302 hours a day, 7 days a week with 24 cameras, provides 2 meals of at least 500 calories per day to irregular migrants.
In the center, which also includes a clothing area to meet the clothing needs of irregular migrants and areas where social activities are carried out, there is also a polyclinic for the provision of health services.
Irregular migrants, who are taken to the ventilation area for at least 1 hour a day, can also spend their time by painting, doing sports and playing table tennis.
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