A TOTAL OF 418.9 THOUSAND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED BETWEEN 1995-2003
ANKARA - A total of 418 thousand 977 illegal immigrants who entered Turkey illegally were captured in Turkey between 1995 and May 1, 2003.
Ministry of Interior Affairs officials told the A.A correspondent on Friday that Turkey's struggle against illegal migration had been continuing without any interruption.
As a result of Turkish security forces' determined attitude in 2000 and 2001, human smugglers had begun using southern route (Iraq-Syria-Lebanon( and northern route (Iran-Caucasus-Ukraine).
Noting that there had also been changes in route of ships carrying illegal immigrants, officials said, ''recently, African ships head for Italy and France while Sri Lankan and Indian ships preferred Greece and Italy through the Suez Canal.''
Officials also gave information about illegal migration and human smuggling, ''a total of 11 thousand 362 illegal immigrants were captured in 1995, 18 thousand 804 in 1996, 28 thousand 439 in 1997, 29 thousand 426 in 1998, 47 thousand 529 in 1999, 94 thousand 514 in 2000, 92 thousand 362 in 2001, 82 thousand 825 in 2002 and 13 thousand 716 in the first four months of 2003.''
''Foreigners who attempted to enter Turkey with false documents were not allowed. 6 thousand 69 foreigners were rejected in 1999, 24 thousand 504 in 2000, 15 thousand 208 in 2001, 11 thousand 84 in 2002 and 2 thousand 663 in the first four months of 2003,'' they said.
Noting that foreigners who committed crimes in Turkey such as robbery, seizure by violence, forgery and smuggling, were deported, officials said, ''18 thousand 558 foreigners were deported in 1996, 27 thousand 992 in 1997, 24 thousand 28 in 1998, 31 thousand 473 in 1999, 31 thousand 399 in 2000, 42 thousand 43 in 2001 and 42 thousand 232 in 2002.''
Under activities aiming at human smuggling by seaway, number of vessels carrying illegal immigrants from Turkey to Italy and Greece decreased from 19 in 2000 to 9 in 2001.
Meanwhile, operations have been increased against human smugglers. A total of 98 smugglers were captured in 1998, 850 in 2000, 1 thousand 155 in 2001, 1 thousand 157 in 2002 and 238 in the first four months of 2003.
Foreigners especially from former Eastern Block countries and from some Balkan countries come to Turkey. These foreigners are generally involved in illegal employment and prostitution. They do not leave Turkey when their visas are expired. Therefore, most of them are captured and deported.
A total of 3 thousand 69 foreigners were deported in 1996, 4 thousand 83 in 1997, 4 thousand 920 in 1998, 3 thousand 643 in 1999, 3 thousand 529 in 2000, 3 thousand 508 in 2001, 2 thousand 557 in 2002 and 645 in the first four months of 2003 because of prostitution.
A total of 1 thousand 234 foreigners, who were carriers of contagious disease, were deported in 1996, 907 in 1997, 847 in 1998, 1 thousand 212 in 1999, 1 thousand 377 in 2000, 1 thousand 253 in 2001, 718 in 2002 and 178 in the first four months of 2003.
Ministry of Interior Affairs officials recalled that Turkey was given place in the third category together with many Asian and African countries and Greece in the U.S. report about human smuggling. The third category includes countries, which have not taken any legal and administrative measures to prevent human smuggling.
Noting that information in the report about Turkey did not reflect the situation fully, officials said, ''despite legal developments and administrative arrangements of the last one year, Turkey's inclusion in the third group was considered by Turkey an unfair assessment ignoring all these progress and development.''
(UK-AÖ) 13.06.2003