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48,000 foreigners involved in crime deported from Turkey
According to the report, the number of foreigners living in Turkey who are involved in crime is rising with each passing year, leading to the increase in deportations. While in 2000 the figures for crime committed by foreigners didn’t exceed double digits, the numbers jumped significantly by 2007, when 1,396 foreigners were arrested for committing crimes. Of these, 541 were later released. In 2008, 1,764 foreigners were arrested, of which 564 were later released. In the past 12 months, 2,160 foreigners have been arrested, of which 1,105 were later released.
Security Directorate officials say the rise in crimes perpetrated by foreigners -- a group including undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, tourists and residence permit holders -- is mostly attributable to difficult living conditions. The number of foreigners deported from Turkey for involvement in crime was 18,558 in 1996; 31,473 in 1999; 38,040 by 2004; and 54,692 in 2007.
Robbery, smuggling, mugging and forgery are the most frequent acts of crime perpetrated by this demographic, the report says.
Turkey spent a total TL 25 million on the deportation of foreigners between 1999 and 2008, the report said.
These migrants were either deported to their home countries or to a European country. There are currently 18,890 migrants in Turkey who have applied for refugee or asylum status. Due to lengthy bureaucratic procedures, asylum seekers spend an average of at least two years in Turkey waiting on an update of their status.
In 2008, residence permits were issued to 168,153 foreigners, with 17,459 of them including work permits, 27,731 were issued for students and 122,963 were issued for purposes including commerce, touristic purposes and research.
In 2007, 225,208 foreigners received residence permits: 24,881 for employment, 28,455 to study at Turkish schools, and the remainder for other purposes.
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