The number of irregular migrants deported from Turkey in 2022 has reached nearly 70,000.

The figure represents an increase by 142 percent compared to the same period in 2021, a local daily reported, quoting the Directorate General of Migration Management.

“Since the beginning of this year, 69,692 irregular migrants, 41,492 from Afghanistan and 7,772 from Pakistan, were safely sent back to their countries,” the directorate said in a written statement carried by the Hurriyet Daily News.

The figure takes the number of irregular migrants deported from the country since 2016 to 395,201, according to the officials.

“Some 17,054 migrants from 91 different nationalities are under administrative detention in our removal centers, and their deportation proceedings continue,” the directorate added.

The authority also pointed out that voluntary repatriation processes continue as 517,289 Syrians have returned to their country to date.

Source: Bahrain News Agency