ANKARA: Turkish authorities have detained more than 152,000 illegal immigrants in nationwide operations throughout 2025, according to official data released by the Turkish Presidency of Migration Management.
While the figure represents a significant enforcement push, it marks a notable decrease from the previous year, when over 225,000 individuals were apprehended.
The data reveals that Afghan citizens constituted the largest nationality among those detained, with more than 42,000 arrests. They were followed by Syrian nationals, while substantial numbers of citizens from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran were also detained in the sweeping operations.
The statistics underscore Turkey’s ongoing, intense focus on managing irregular migration. The country, which hosts the world’s largest refugee population including nearly 3.7 million Syrians, has tightened border security and internal enforcement in recent years amid economic pressures and shifting public sentiment.
The release of these annual figures comes as Turkey continues to navigate its complex role as both a key transit route and a major host country for migrants and refugees heading to Europe. The government has repeatedly called for greater burden-sharing with the European Union and has pursued repatriation agreements with several countries, including Afghanistan.
Analysts note that the year-on-year decline in arrests may reflect more effective border controls, the impact of readmission agreements, or changing migration routes. However, the detention of over 150,000 individuals in a single year highlights the persistent scale of irregular migration flows through the region.
The Migration Authority did not provide a breakdown of how many of those detained were deported, voluntarily returned, or remained in processing at year’s end.
Meanwhile in a sharp critique of online political discourse, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a central leader of the opposition alliance, publicly censured Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) social media team for engaging in disrespectful and misogynistic rhetoric. He issued a stern call for digital decorum and respect for women across party lines.
The rebuke came following widespread reports of abusive and gender-targeted harassment originating from anonymous accounts linked to PTI’s online supporters.
