More than 38,250 irregular migrants held in Istanbul since start of 2021

Irregular migrants handed to local migration office, say officials

By Hasan Huseyin Kulaoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) – More than 38,250 irregular migrants held in Turkey’s metropolitan city of Istanbul as of Jan. 1 have been handed to the local migration office, authorities said Tuesday.

The Istanbul Governor's Office said in a statement that 453 irregular migrants, including 159 Afghans, were held in Istanbul on Monday.

Irregular migrants were handed to the local migration office for deportation procedures, it added.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Turkey, which already hosts 4 million refugees -- more than any country in the world -- is taking new security measures within and on borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar

Kaynak:

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