Turkey Intensifies Migration Crackdown: 152,000 Undocumented Migrants Detained, Amid Escalating Rights Concerns

Turkish authorities detained more than 152,000 undocumented migrants across the country in the past year, according to official data from the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM). The figures reveal a concerted enforcement campaign even as total detentions show a significant decline from the previous year’s tally of over 225,000.

Afghan nationals constituted the largest single group, with over 42,000 detentions, underscoring their vulnerable position as the primary focus of Turkey’s migration control efforts. This trend persists from the previous year, when arrests of Afghans exceeded 65,000 nationwide. Following Afghans, the largest numbers of detainees originated from Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, highlighting Turkey’s pivotal role as both a destination and a major transit corridor for migrants aiming to reach the European Union.

Geopolitical Pressure and Enforcement

Turkey’s strategic location, sharing a maritime border with Greece and land borders with several conflict-affected nations, has solidified its status as a key hub for irregular migration. This geography, particularly the porous border regions, has become a focal point for smuggling networks facilitating the movement of Afghan, Iranian, and other migrants toward Europe.

In response to sustained pressure from the European Union to curb irregular arrivals, Ankara has significantly intensified its enforcement operations. These measures include increased patrols, raids in major cities like Istanbul and Izmir, and a sharp rise in deportations. Reports indicate that Afghan refugees are frequently among those forcibly returned to Afghanistan, despite ongoing humanitarian crises and security threats in their home country.

Mounting Human Rights Allegations

Parallel to the crackdown, serious allegations of human rights abuses against migrants have escalated. Multiple international investigations and reports from rights groups detail systemic mistreatment.

A landmark joint investigation published last year by Politico, Der Spiegel, and other European media outlets documented widespread abuse at Turkey’s borders and within detention centers. The report cited instances of Afghan and Syrian refugees being subjected to beatings, verbal abuse, and prolonged confinement in freezing cold rooms for up to 12 hours as a coercive measure to force acquiescence to deportation. These practices have drawn condemnation from the United Nations and major human rights organizations, which accuse Turkish border guards and police of employing excessive and cruel force.

Domestic Context and Regional Implications

The domestic appetite for hosting migrants in Turkey has soured considerably amid economic challenges, with anti-refugee sentiment becoming a potent political issue. This public pressure incentivizes the government to demonstrate strict control, often through visible detention and deportation campaigns.

Regionally, the situation creates a complex domino effect. As Turkey tightens its borders, migrants are pushed toward riskier alternative routes, while tensions occasionally flare with Greece over border enforcement. The high number of Afghan detainees also spotlights the enduring fallout from the Taliban takeover, as Afghans continue to form one of the world’s largest displaced populations with dwindling safe pathways to asylum.

In summary, while Turkish data points to a more targeted and somewhat reduced detention operation compared to 2024, the sustained focus on Afghan migrants, coupled with serious and documented allegations of rights violations, paints a picture of a migration policy under strain—caught between European demands, domestic political pressures, and profound humanitarian challenges.

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