Turkey intensifies its crackdown on undocumented refugees as public hostility and European pressure mount. The Turkish Ministry of Interior reports that by December 18, 2025, authorities detained 152,331 irregular migrants nationwide.

 

Afghans lead the numbers with 42,202 detainees, followed by Syrians at 21,117. Other nationals from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and more are also among those apprehended. Turkey, increasingly a transit point for migrants aiming for Europe, faces pressure from Brussels to tighten controls.

 

In response, Ankara has ramped up patrols and raids in cities like Istanbul and Izmir, along with a significant rise in deportations. However, Turkish authorities face accusations of harsh treatment of migrants. Reports by Politico and Der Spiegel highlight instances of abuse, including beatings and harsh detainment conditions, especially against Afghan and Syrian refugees.

 

Over the past decade, Turkey has seen a surge in irregular migration, with apprehensions peaking in 2019. Alongside its crackdown on migrants, Turkey has boosted its operations against human smuggling, arresting 10,883 smugglers by mid-December 2025. As Turkey navigates rising migration pressures, the balance between enforcement and human rights remains contentious.

 

 

Key Takeaways

• Turkey detains over 150,000 migrants amid crackdown.
• Accusations of harsh treatment escalate international concern.
• Heightened enforcement reflects EU pressure and growing public hostility.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Express 2025-12-27

 

 

 

Well done Turkey.

 

Screw the EU.

10 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Well done Turkey.

 

Screw the EU.

“ Screw the EU" – I agree with that.
But have you ever wondered how many people in that same EU feel the same way and are, in a sense, being held back by those same rulers?
Perhaps you have noticed, for example, the violent riots by farmers in Belgium, France and Germany, who are also fiercely opposed to the EU, but once again, those in power are wiping their backsides with those protests.

Incidentally, don't underestimate the Turks with their Erdogan, they are playing a very dirty game.

Good move. Just a shame that most Europeans will not follow. It was Blair followed later by Merkel who opened this door. Australia, the USA, and now Turkey are showing the way. I doubt many more will have the guts to do the same.

17 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Well done Turkey.

 

Screw the EU.

 

Presumably, you missed this bit:

 

"Turkey, increasingly a transit point for migrants aiming for Europe, faces pressure from Brussels to tighten controls". 

7 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

“ Screw the EU" – I agree with that.
But have you ever wondered how many people in that same EU feel the same way and are, in a sense, being held back by those same rulers?
Perhaps you have noticed, for example, the violent riots by farmers in Belgium, France and Germany, who are also fiercely opposed to the EU, but once again, those in power are wiping their backsides with those protests.

Incidentally, don't underestimate the Turks with their Erdogan, they are playing a very dirty game.

 

Absolute tosh.

 

You presumably are unaware that there is a majority of the public in favour of EU membership in almost every member state?

 

The farmers in Belgium, France and Germany are not "... fiercely opposed to the EU ..", they are fiercely opposed to the proposed EU - Mercosur trade deal. Imo farmers in the member states do rather well out of the EU CAP and I imagine that the more reflective EU farmers feel the same way.

 

Perhaps, you also haven't noticed the discontent shown by British farmers in the aftermath of Brexit; in particular wrt the trade deal struck by the UK with Australia and NZ?

 

Yes, I'm aware that British farmers are unhappy about changes to IHT but farmers clearly don't feel like the promised Brexit benefits have been delivered to their industry.

4 hours ago, RayC said:

 

Presumably, you missed this bit:

 

"Turkey, increasingly a transit point for migrants aiming for Europe, faces pressure from Brussels to tighten controls". 

 

Nope didn't miss that bit Raymond.

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Nope didn't miss that bit Raymond.

 

Then we'll just chalk it up as another of your irrational anti-EU rants which lack any foundation, Johnny.

Half of Türkiye is geographically in Europe and Türkiye applied for EU membership in 1987 but the process got started in 2005 and has been moribund ever since.

 

This actions looks to me like Erdoğan is toadying to the EU to jumpstart that process.

 

More to the point, where are these refugees being held and under what conditions. It is likely a humanitarian crisis. Wouldn't you want to flee Afghanistan???

10 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Half of Türkiye is geographically in Europe and Türkiye applied for EU membership in 1987 but the process got started in 2005 and has been moribund ever since.

 

This actions looks to me like Erdoğan is toadying to the EU to jumpstart that process.

 

More to the point, where are these refugees being held and under what conditions. It is likely a humanitarian crisis. Wouldn't you want to flee Afghanistan???

only about 3% of Türkiye's land area is in Europe The other 97% is in Asia

On 12/28/2025 at 4:21 PM, JonnyF said:

Well done Turkey.

 

Screw the EU.

Is Turkey in the EU?

On 12/28/2025 at 10:18 AM, CharlieH said:

 

Turkey intensifies its crackdown on undocumented refugees as public hostility and European pressure mount. The Turkish Ministry of Interior reports that by December 18, 2025, authorities detained 152,331 irregular migrants nationwide.

 

Afghans lead the numbers with 42,202 detainees, followed by Syrians at 21,117. Other nationals from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and more are also among those apprehended. Turkey, increasingly a transit point for migrants aiming for Europe, faces pressure from Brussels to tighten controls.

 

In response, Ankara has ramped up patrols and raids in cities like Istanbul and Izmir, along with a significant rise in deportations. However, Turkish authorities face accusations of harsh treatment of migrants. Reports by Politico and Der Spiegel highlight instances of abuse, including beatings and harsh detainment conditions, especially against Afghan and Syrian refugees.

 

Over the past decade, Turkey has seen a surge in irregular migration, with apprehensions peaking in 2019. Alongside its crackdown on migrants, Turkey has boosted its operations against human smuggling, arresting 10,883 smugglers by mid-December 2025. As Turkey navigates rising migration pressures, the balance between enforcement and human rights remains contentious.

 

 

Key Takeaways

• Turkey detains over 150,000 migrants amid crackdown.

• Accusations of harsh treatment escalate international concern.

• Heightened enforcement reflects EU pressure and growing public hostility.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Express 2025-12-27

 

 

 

If you put them in hotels, many more will obviously come. If you are harsh with them because in reality that is the only means of stopping them, they will stop coming. It is a sad situation but why ignore reality. Put them in cages and and keep them alive during the deportation process.

How has putting them in hotels worked? Wouldn't want to be an immigrant but they need to fix their countries in stead of moving to better countries. Easy for me to say from my plush chair sipping expensive coffee :)

4 hours ago, atpeace said:

If you are harsh with them because in reality that is the only means of stopping them, they will stop coming.

I think you're wrong. There have always been economic migrants no matter how arduous the trip, how harsh the treatment, how severe the consequences.

What's happening now is far worse than in the past. WWII created 'displaced persons' camps, in other words, people who had no homes to go back to. Largely, one of the reasons for the Balfour Agreement creating the state of Israel.

Postwar, many European countries were still relying on empires which were crumbling in a wave of independence. That colonialism is now coming home to roost--as well it should. These are the people colonial powers robbed--now it's their turn. To even suggest otherwise is an arrogance of superiority over those bloody kaffirs!

Then we get to the Americas. They have relied on immigration since 1492. As the colony grew, it became a great venue in which to isolate and forget about religious nutjobs. First they killed all the natives, and then relied on immigrant slaves to do the hard work. A lot of these slaving locations became European colonies. Tit for tat, eh.

The world's poor came to the US for a better life, including the Chinese labour that built the railroads which created fortunes for fatcats. Everybody could make it in America. Every lad could become President.

As farms grew into corporations, field hands were needed for planting and harvesting. Enter the Mexicans.

The US is still, for many, the promised land of milk and honey, where the streets are paved with gold. Try convincing someone who's ever seen a greenback, the world's currency, this isn't true. Any person can become a billionaire in America (apparently, even if you're a racist fruitcake).

Going to stop this through torture, death threats, El Salvador, ICE? Not a chance. Live with the immigrants, be civilised, don't separate yourselves.

6 hours ago, cowellandrew said:

Is Turkey in the EU?

Allow me to educate you again. No, Turkey is not in the EU.

As i said, Turkey is again showing the middle finger to the EU.

You do not have to be in the EU to screw the EU. In fact it is much easier when you are not held hostage by them. That is why everyone should either leave like Britain or not join. Like Turkey.

Well done Turkey. Screw the EU.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Yes, in a perfect world where resources were unlimited and all immigrants were decent people. In the real world countries need to be selective and enforce immigration laws.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Allow me to educate you again. No, Turkey is not in the EU.

As i said, Turkey is again showing the middle finger to the EU.

You do not have to be in the EU to screw the EU. In fact it is much easier when you are not held hostage by them. That is why everyone should either leave like Britain or not join. Like Turkey.

Well done Turkey. Screw the EU.

I think you willl find its not Turkey showing the middle finger to the EU just a reminder to the EU that without the EU and the UK while it was in the EU providing funding to Turkey the 152,331 irregular migrants nationwide detained for the whole of 2025 and more would have been in Europe now

The EU and the UK while it was part of the EU have provided nearly €10 billion in funding to Turkey since 2011

EU announced additional funding for years 2025-2027 on 15th December 2025

on the financing of the multiannual individual measure supporting essential needs for refugees and migration management in Türkiye for 2025-2027

https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d565b97b-c660-4ac4-8f0e-efd97f2bc569_en?filename=C_2025_8679_F1_COMMISSION_IMPLEMENTING_DECISION_EN_V3_P1_4518828.PDF

30 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

I think you willl find its not Turkey showing the middle finger to the EU just a reminder to the EU that without the EU and the UK while it was in the EU providing funding to Turkey the 152,331 irregular migrants nationwide detained for the whole of 2025 and more would have been in Europe now

The EU and the UK while it was part of the EU have provided nearly €10 billion in funding to Turkey since 2011

EU announced additional funding for years 2025-2027 on 15th December 2025

on the financing of the multiannual individual measure supporting essential needs for refugees and migration management in Türkiye for 2025-2027

https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d565b97b-c660-4ac4-8f0e-efd97f2bc569_en?filename=C_2025_8679_F1_COMMISSION_IMPLEMENTING_DECISION_EN_V3_P1_4518828.PDF

Yes the EU tries to bribe Turkey to facilitate migration into Europe as parts of it's globalist agenda.

34 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Yes the EU tries to bribe Turkey to facilitate migration into Europe as parts of it's globalist agenda.

Incorrect the EU and the UK while the UK was in the EU paid Turkey to stop illegal migration into Europe from Turkey

As for countries showing the middle finger to the UK France would be a good example take the money and do very little in stopping the boats

5 hours ago, vinny41 said:

Incorrect the EU and the UK while the UK was in the EU paid Turkey to stop illegal migration into Europe from Turkey

As for countries showing the middle finger to the UK France would be a good example take the money and do very little in stopping the boats

France screwed us before and after Brexit.

We just dont pay billions into the EU coffers for the privilege now.

Yes a few hundred million to the lying French authorities but Reform will stop that.