Turkey: 120,000 Migrants Arrested in the First Ten Months of 2026

Istanbul, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- Turkish immigration data indicated that 120,000 migrants, including 33,000 Afghans, were arrested during the first ten months of this year. Turkish media reported that Afghans constituted the largest group, followed by citizens of Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, and Yemen. Latest figures point to a steady increase in the number of Afghans detained in Turkey; during the first eight months of 2026, Turkish authorities arrested 25,314 Afghans in approximately 95,000 operations targeting undocumented migrants of all nationalities. Turkey lies on major migration routes between Asia and the Middle East on one side and Europe on the other, making it both a transit country and a destination. Turkish authorities periodically announce operations targeting networks that facilitate the irregular entry and exit of migrants, which often involve maritime and land routes used by these networks. (End) T.A.