Syrian refugees return to Turkey: Interior Minister Yerlikaya reveals latest numbers
Minister Yerlikaya Reveals Foreigner Statistics and Migration Efforts
The Minister of Interior Affairs, Yerlikaya, recently provided insight into the number of foreigners in Turkey and the government’s efforts to manage migration in the country. According to Yerlikaya, there are a total of 4,121,663 foreigners in Turkey. The majority of these foreign nationals are Syrians, with 2,865,430 residing in the country. Additionally, there are 1,066,013 foreigners with residence permits and 190,220 individuals under international protection.
In 2024, Turkey deported 142,536 irregular immigrants and made 5,164 arrests in 7,871 operations related to immigration smuggling. Moreover, since December 9th, 81,576 Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned to their homeland, with a total of 821,529 individuals going back since 2017.
The government has implemented various measures to manage migration effectively, including the deployment of 270 mobile migration vehicles across all 81 provinces. These vehicles have facilitated the identity checks of 2,647,963 individuals from July 2023 to the end of 2024.
Yerlikaya emphasized the importance of preventing irregular migration and ensuring that Turkey does not become a magnet for migrants. He highlighted the need for global cooperation in addressing migration issues, particularly with neighboring countries.
To streamline the process for legal foreign nationals entering Turkey for trade, tourism, work, education, and other purposes, the government has reduced bureaucratic hurdles. Additionally, a protocol has been signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to support international students studying in Turkey.
As the government continues to work towards managing migration effectively, Minister Yerlikaya’s descriptions shed light on the comprehensive efforts being made in Turkey.
