Admission-like statement from Yerlikaya regarding Syrians

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya spoke at the "Human Rights Training" program organized by the AKP Human Rights Presidency and launched at the party headquarters.

Addressing the issue of combating illegal migration, Minister Yerlikaya stated that more than 4 million regular migrants live in Turkey and made the following remarks:

"There are 300 million migrants in the world. Of this number, 123 million are forcibly displaced. As of today, there are 4 million 437 thousand regular migrants in our country. The total number of those with legal residency rights is 3 million 103 thousand, while the number of Syrians under temporary protection is one million 109 thousand. The number of Syrians with residency permits is 224 thousand. Our Presidency of Migration Management provides these figures to open sources every week. To say that there are more irregular migrants in Turkey than these data suggest is a complete mental lapse."

"WE FOUND THAT 729 THOUSAND OF THE 3 MILLION 103 THOUSAND SYRIANS WERE NOT AT THEIR DECLARED ADDRESSES"

Stating that the addresses declared by foreigners are being meticulously audited, Minister Yerlikaya said, "We investigated whether all foreigners were actually residing at the addresses they declared. We did this with great meticulousness. We found that 729 thousand of the 3 million 103 thousand Syrians were not at their declared addresses. We gave them a 90-day period. We sent warnings in Turkish, Arabic, and English. After 90 days, we grant an additional 2 months, but this time we suspend all services we provide," he said.

"MIGRANTS EXCEEDING 4 MILLION HAVE BEEN STOPPED"

Expressing that 4 million migrants have been stopped thanks to methods of resolving migration at its source, Minister Yerlikaya said, "We want to resolve irregular migration at its source. This is one of the reasons for the 3 operations in northern Syria. We no longer receive migration from there. We have created a safe zone for them there. More than 4 million people who had the potential to come toward us have been stopped in that region. They are continuing their lives there. Since 2016, 678 thousand people have made voluntary, safe, and dignified returns to that region. Thanks to the walls on the borders and the effective security systems alongside them, the entry of 202 thousand 705 people into our country has been prevented as of this cabinet term. Between June 4, 2023, and June 4, 2024, we deported 163 thousand 745 irregular migrants," he said.

Stating that they do not give any breathing room to migrant smuggling organizers, Minister Yerlikaya said, "One of the biggest issues we focus on is migrant smuggling organizers. We do not take our eyes off even those who have not yet been arrested. If they have any intention of not stopping, we challenge them, saying we will send you to join your friends who have been arrested," he said.

"WE PLACE ALL FOREIGNERS WITH DEPORTATION ORDERS UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION"

Stating that not every foreigner who has been issued a deportation order is taken to removal centers, Minister Yerlikaya said, "Within the framework of deportation processes, we do not place all foreigners with deportation orders under administrative supervision, nor do we send them to removal centers. We warn individuals whose legal rights have expired and who pose no risk to public order and security to leave within 15-30 days, informing them that otherwise, they will fall into the status of irregular migrants," he said.

"WE HAVE 32 REMOVAL CENTERS IN 25 OF OUR CITIES"

Stating that they have a removal center capacity greater than the total of all cities in Europe, Minister Yerlikaya said, "If the person we are going to send is going to face persecution for any reason in the country they are going to, we do not send them there. This is our practice regarding human rights. We have 32 Removal Centers in 25 of our cities. We have a capacity of 18 thousand 870 people. This number is above the capacity of all European Union countries. Here, all public places have camera systems where at least 60 days of retrospective records can be examined," he stated.

FOREIGN STUDENTS WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN RESIDENCY PERMITS FROM THE MIGRATION ADMINISTRATION

Stating that within the framework of the protocol signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), foreign students will no longer have to obtain residency permits from migration administrations, Yerlikaya said, "Within the framework of the protocol we signed with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in November, 93 thousand 482 foreign university students have been able to make their applications to teams we have authorized in student affairs offices in 6 months, without having to come to the Migration Administration and wait in line," he said.

2 FOREIGNERS WERE REGISTERED AT THE MINISTRY RESIDENCE

It had emerged that a residency permit issued for Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya's residence in Ankara was registered in the name of two foreigners. Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk, in his article titled 'Was a trap set for the Interior Minister?', had used the expressions, "An official says, 'This is Ankara; there are some calculations behind events that appear normal.'"