Minister Soylu Announces 80 Thousand People will be Deported This Year

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Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has said that deportation procedures of 80 thousand refugees on average will be undertaken by the end of this year.

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Speaking at the Haliç Congress Center in İstanbul today (July 23), Minister of Interior Soylu stated, "We deported 56 thousand illegal immigrants in total last year. As of this year, we will undertake the deportation procedures of an average of 80 thousand people, which is almost 40-50 percent higher than the previous years. We have to do it."

"It is apparent that we are faced with a migration wave", Soylu indicated further and shared the following information:

"I would like to give you a number. Only in 2016, the number of illegal immigrants prevented from entering Turkey was 729 thousand 370. In other words, the number of people who wanted to enter Turkey from our Western and Southern borders, but were prevented by us was 729 thousand 370.

"In 2018, this figure was 547 thousand 857. And, in 2019 so far, this figure is 167 thousand 874. Behind the decrease in this figure are also the measures that we have taken, are trying to take and will take on the borders."

'We caught 16 thousand organizers'

Stating that there are people organizing the transit of refugees through Turkey, Soylu also indicated, "In 2017, 2018 and 2019, the number of organizers that we have caught is 16 thousand."

"We are waging a big struggle. Turkey is waging this struggle in the name of humanity", Soylu stated further and continued as follows:

"We do it with our law enforcement bodies and we are waging a real struggle to prevent Turkey from turning into an illegal migration center. While doing this, we are hosting our 3 million 630 thousand Syrian brothers and sisters.

"Last year, we deported a total of 56 thousand illegal immigrants. As of July 20, this figure is 43 thousand. As of this year, we will undertake the deportation procedures of an average of 80 thousand people, which is almost 40-50 percent higher than the previous years. We have to do it." (AÖ/SD)

* Source: DHA