Turkey plans to deport Syrians engaging in illegal migration

Turkey's Interior Ministry Migration Management Directorate and Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) have been working on a new bill to deport Syrian migrants who were once subjected to illegal migration attempts in Turkish territories, ?zmir Governor Mustafa Toprak has said.

"The Interior Ministry's Directorate of Migration Management along with AFAD are mulling over a new formula to deport those [Syrians] who once engaged in illegal attempts to cross into other countries, but could not be sent to Syria because of the ongoing crisis," said Toprak, according to Anadolu Agency, adding a measure would be taken without violating international law.

Most Syrian migrants fleeing the war have traveled to the Aegean province of ?zmir because of the crossing ease from the Aegean city to Greek islands, which they saw as transition points to immigrate to European countries, Toprak said.

The Turkish Coast Guard Aegean Sea Area Command with the support of local gendarmerie and security forces were already tackling the problem with Syrians fleeing the war and arriving at the Aegean city, he said.

"We cannot ignore overcrowding by Syrians scattered around the downtown [?zmir] carrying baggage with them as to be ready to head off [to another country]. We will develop a new measure [for what is at issue with these Syrians] without violating international law," Toprak said.

Toprak said seeing migrants living in parks, gardens or mosques was touching, but that a new measure was being developed for those agreeing with human traffickers to endeavor to illegally cross into other countries. 

Around 67,900 foreign nationals, mostly Syrians, were recorded in ?zmir by temporary identification documents issued...