Ali Yerlikaya announces the number of Syrians in Turkey: 'We are no longer a transit route'

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya made statements regarding the current agenda on Habertürk TV.

Yerlikaya, who recently announced that 729 thousand Syrians were not found at their declared addresses, had stated that they had given these individuals a deadline to update their addresses.

"WE ARE NO LONGER A TRANSIT ROUTE"

In his latest statement, Yerlikaya reported that the number of Syrians who have not updated their addresses has fallen to 396 thousand 738. Stating that the number of Syrians in Turkey is 3 million 103 thousand 606, Yerlikaya said, "We are no longer a transit route."

Yerlikaya also announced that a record number of deportations have been carried out in the last 14 months regarding irregular migration and human smuggling.

"MIGRATION IS A GLOBAL ISSUE"

Yerlikaya said the following:

"We have an issue regarding migration. But the whole world has an issue. This is a global issue. It has become an extremely popular topic. But we have been in government for 22 years under the leadership of our President, and in 2013, the backbone of our migration policy, the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, was enacted.

A long world experience and our own experience were examined, and a single law and a single implementer were established. The Directorate General of Migration Management was established. In 2021, the Presidency of Migration Management was established so that this issue could be managed more effectively. It was made more functional. Migration has always existed.

The total number of foreigners with legal residence rights in Turkey is 3 million 103 thousand 606 Syrians under temporary protection, 1 million 109 thousand 25 with residence permits, and 224 thousand 698 under international protection. Visa exemption application with 95 countries. 105 countries are subject to visas, 58 are subject to exceptions.

Syria's population is 23.5 million. 17 million of these are in Syria, and 6.5 million are in other countries. Since the day the unrest began, 350 thousand Syrians have lost their lives. There are 3 million 103 thousand 606 Syrians in Turkey. There are attempts to stir up discord through these figures. We are no longer a transit route. There are 396 thousand 738 Syrians left who have not updated their addresses.

A record number of deportations have been carried out in 14 months regarding irregular migration and human smuggling. The Coast Guard is writing an epic. We are determined to cut off the breath of human smugglers. There is a wall along the entire Syrian border."

News Source: 12punto