05.08.2024 20:31
Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya made statements regarding the fight against irregular migration. Yerlikaya stated that there are 4 million 437 thousand regular migrants living in Turkey and said, "We have seen that 729 thousand out of 3 million 103 thousand Syrians do not reside at the address they declared. We have given them a 90-day period. We have sent warnings in Turkish, Arabic, and English. After 90 days, we are giving them an additional 2 months, but this time we are suspending all the services we provide."
The Minister of Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, stated that there are 4 million 437 thousand regular immigrants living in Turkey, saying, "We have seen that 729 thousand out of 3 million 103 thousand Syrians do not reside at the address they declared. We have given them 90 days. We have sent warnings in Turkish, Arabic, and English. After 90 days, we are giving them an additional 2 months, but this time we are suspending all the services we provide."
YERLİKAYA: THERE ARE 4 MILLION 437 THOUSAND IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COUNTRY The Minister of Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, spoke at the "Human Rights Education" Program organized by the AK Party Human Rights Presidency and held at the party headquarters. Addressing the issue of illegal migration, Minister Yerlikaya stated that there are more than 4 million regular immigrants living in Turkey and said the following: "There are 300 million immigrants in the world. The forcibly displaced people are 123 million within this number. As of today, there are 4 million 437 thousand regular immigrants in our country.
THE NUMBER OF SYRIANS IS MORE THAN 4 MILLION The total number of Syrians with legal residence rights is 3 million 103 thousand, and the number of Syrians under temporary protection is 1 million 109 thousand. The number of Syrians with residence permits is also 224 thousand. Our Directorate General of Migration Management provides these figures to open sources every week. To say that there are irregular immigrants in Turkey beyond these figures is a complete eclipse of reason."
"729 THOUSAND SYRIANS ARE NOT AT THE ADDRESS THEY DECLARED" Minister Yerlikaya stated that the addresses declared by foreigners are meticulously inspected and said, "We have investigated whether all foreigners actually reside at the addresses they declared. We have done this with great care. We have seen that 729 thousand out of 3 million 103 thousand Syrians do not reside at the address they declared. We have given them 90 days. We have sent warnings in Turkish, Arabic, and English. After 90 days, we are giving them an additional 2 months, but this time we are suspending all the services we provide."
"WE WANT TO SOLVE IRREGULAR MIGRATION AT ITS SOURCE" Minister Yerlikaya stated that 4 million immigrants have been stopped thanks to methods to solve irregular migration at its source and continued as follows: "We want to solve irregular migration at its source. One reason for the 3 operations in northern Syria is this. We no longer accept migration from there. We have created a safe zone for them there. More than 4 million people who have the potential to come towards us in that region have been stopped.
Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya "678 THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE RETURNED" They continue their lives there. From 2016 until now, 678 thousand people have voluntarily, safely, and honorably returned to that region. Thanks to the walls and effective security systems next to them regarding irregular migration, as of this cabinet term, the entry of 202 thousand 705 people into our borders has been prevented. Between June 4, 2023, and June 4, 2024, we deported 163 thousand 745 irregular migrants."
Minister Yerlikaya stated that they do not give any opportunity to human smugglers and organizers, saying, "One of the biggest issues we focus on is human smuggling organizers. We do not even let those who have not been arrested yet out of our sight. If they have any intention of not letting them go, we challenge them and say that we will send them to where their arrested friends are."
"WE DO NOT SEND ALL FOREIGNERS WHO HAVE BEEN DECIDED TO BE DEPORTED TO THE REMOVAL CENTERS" Minister Yerlikaya stated that not all foreigners who have been decided to be deported are taken to removal centers, saying, "Within the framework of the deportation process, we do not take all foreigners who have been decided to be deported into administrative supervision or send them to removal centers. We warn individuals whose legal rights have expired and who do not pose a threat to public order and security to leave within 15-30 days, otherwise, we inform them that they will fall into the status of irregular migrants."
"WE HAVE 32 REMOVAL CENTERS IN 25 CITIES" Minister Yerlikaya stated that they have more removal center capacity than the total of all cities in Europe and said, "If the person we are going to send will be subjected to persecution for any reason in the country they are going to, we do not send them there. This is our practice related to human rights. We have 32 Removal Centers in 25 cities. We have a capacity of 18,870 people. This number is above the capacity of all European Union countries. All public places here have camera systems that can examine at least 60 days of retrospective records."
Yerlikaya stated that, within the framework of the protocol signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), foreign students will no longer have to apply for residence permits from the immigration authorities and said, "Within the framework of the protocol we signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in November, 93,482 foreign university students can now apply for residence permits to the teams authorized by us in student dormitories without coming to the Immigration Directorate and waiting in line."