Ramazan Seçilmen, Director General of Combating Irregular Migration and Deportation Affairs of the Directorate of Migration Management, stated that the capacity of the removal centers, where deportation procedures of irregular migrants are carried out, will reach 20 thousand in May.
A press briefing was held at the Akyurt Removal Center, where irregular migrants are housed until their deportation process is completed after being caught by law enforcement.
At the meeting, it was emphasized that thanks to the removal centers, irregular migrants, whose deportation procedures are carried out as soon as possible, are also enabled to access fundamental rights.
It has been reported that 2016 thousand 320 foreigners have been deported since 172 within the scope of the fight against irregular migration.
It was stated that 451 thousand 96 irregular migrants were prevented from entering the country last year, and as of April 14, 2022, the number of irregular migrants who were prevented from entering Turkey in 2022 was 127 thousand 256.
It was noted that the capture activities within the country continued without slowing down, and 2019 thousand 454 irregular migrants were caught in 662, 2020 thousand 122 in 302, and 2021 thousand 162 in 996. The number of irregular migrants apprehended so far in 2022 has reached 55.
6 Irregular Immigrants Caught in Peace Operations
At the information meeting, where it was pointed out that Peace Operations are carried out every month to combat irregular migration across the country, it was noted that a total of 4 irregular migrants were caught in 6 Peace Operations this year.
At the meeting, it was stated that Afghans were the largest among the irregular migrants apprehended this year, followed by Syrians, Palestinians and Pakistanis, respectively.
We Will Reach 30 Removal Centers and 20 Thousand Capacity Across the Country
Ramazan Seçilmen, Director General of Combating Irregular Migration and Deportation Affairs of the Directorate of Migration Management, said that after the arrest of irregular migrants by law enforcement units, their fingerprints and photographs were recorded in a joint database integrated by the General Directorate of Security, Gendarmerie General Command, Coast Guard Command and Directorate of Migration Management.
Explaining that foreign nationals who come to the Removal Center are first interviewed to determine their identity and nationality, and whether they have travel documents, Seçilmis stated that after these processes, deportation procedures were carried out.
Pointing out that the selected removal centers had only 2015 capacity in 1740, we will reach 30 removal centers and 20 thousand capacity across the country with the ones to be opened in May. Thus, we will have reached 1740 thousand from 20 capacity, and we have increased the capacity of removal centers more than 10 times.
We Are Far Above All Europe's Return Capacity
Noting that Turkey has surpassed European countries in terms of its removal centers capacity, Seçmiş said, “Before England left the European Union, the removal center capacity of the union was around 21 thousand. He said, "Currently, the European Union has a capacity of 16 thousand, that is, we have a capacity far above the whole of Europe.
Elected stated that 21 irregular migrants were sent back this year, adding, "87 of them are Afghan nationals and 9 irregular migrants from Pakistan." he said.
Our Return Rate Is Near 50 Percent
Saying that the rates of refoulement have increased by 74 percent compared to the previous year, Seçmiş said, "When we look at the deportation rates in general, we send almost half of every 100 irregular migrants we catch back to their countries, we have a rate of close to 50 percent. Again, this rate is around 18 percent in the European Union, he said.
In the program, members of the press were shown the areas where irregular immigrants are registered, as well as the cafeteria, kindergarten and children's playground at the Akyurt Removal Center.
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