Source: hurriyetdailynews.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey\u2019s interior minister has said that\u00a0Turkey\u2019s new action plans for\u00a0migration-related issues aim only at prevention of illegal\u00a0migration.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis issue only concerns irregular and illegal\u00a0migration. It is out of the question and not acceptable for Syrian people who are under temporary protection, foreigners that are granted international protection status or people who have residence permits in our country to be deported,\u201d said\u00a0Soylu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe do not have the capability or right to do this. Nor do we have such a wish nor action,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soylu\u00a0made the comments on July 28 while holding a press conference after visiting the Kahramanmara\u015f Temporary Shelter Center in southern\u00a0Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 165,000 irregular migrants have so far been detained in\u00a0Turkey\u00a0since the beginning of 2019,\u00a0Soylu\u00a0said. The number is expected to exceed 300,000 by the end of this year,\u00a0Soylu\u00a0said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that 268,000 irregular migrants had been captured in\u00a0Turkey\u00a0in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soylu\u00a0once again underlined that those under temporary protection \u201cmust be settled\u201d in cities where they were officially registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Istanbul Governor\u2019s Office previously announced that refugees who reside in Istanbul despite not being registered there will be referred to camps if they fail to leave the province by Aug. 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reiterating the same issue on July 28,\u00a0Soylu\u00a0said: \u201cA specific period of time has been given to Syrians. Since a specific time has been set, no process has been taken against them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soylu\u00a0said that registrations of refugees were not allowed in some provinces, including Istanbul, except for \u201chumanitarian reasons\u201d such as medical treatment or education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause of this, if we determine unregistered Syrians are in Istanbul, as per our system, we initially take them to a camp and get them registered. Then we ask them which city they want to go to and send them. This is such an easy procedure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over 2,200 migrants detained<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, according to data compiled by\u00a0Turkey\u2019s state-run Anadolu Agency from security sources, at least 2,244 irregular migrants were detained across\u00a0Turkey\u00a0over the past week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As many as 838 migrants were caught in multiple operations carried out by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, which borders Greece and Bulgaria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the northwestern provinces of K\u0131rklareli and Tekirda\u011f, a total of 130 migrants were detained by gendarmerie forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the eastern provinces of Van and Siirt, a total of 83 migrants were detained by police and gendarmerie forces over the past week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the coastal provinces of \u00c7anakkale, Bal\u0131kesir, Ayd\u0131n, \u0130zmir, and Mu\u011fla, the Turkish Coast Guard and gendarmerie forces rounded up a total of 878 migrants as they were trying to cross to Europe through Greece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, some 169 irregular migrants were also detained by police and gendarmerie forces in the southern province of Adana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Separately, border forces in the southern province pf Adama caught 140 migrants for reportedly entering\u00a0Turkey\u00a0from Syria through illegal means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A total of six migrants were detained by police in the central Anatolian province of \u00c7ank\u0131r\u0131.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The migrants included Pakistani, Congolese, Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Senegalese, Central African, Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Somalian, Libyan, Togo, Cameroonian and Palestinian nationals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of the migrants detained during the week were either taken to hospital for medical care or transferred to provincial\u00a0migration\u00a0offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turkey\u00a0has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross to Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.<\/p>\n