Turkey's migrant crisis

The largest group of refugees has been Iranians (until the Syrian civil war). The first influx was the Iranians fleeing from the Iranian Revolution, arrived beginning 1980. The Iran–Iraq War began on 22 September of the same year. Revolution and War brought a combined influx from Iran. 1980 to 1991, a total of 1.5 million Iranians became refugees in Turkey.[14] These refugees weren't recognized as asylum seekers under the terms of the Geneva Convention, because they entered and stayed as tourists; making them Iranian diaspora. A small group applied to UNHCR, UNHCR resettled them in other countries. Another large group of refugees after the Islamic Revolution was Iranian Kurds mainly members of Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, led by Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou. The Islamic government responded to Kurdish fighters as suspected supporters and sympathizers, more than 271 Iranian Kurdish villages were reportedly destroyed and depopulated.[15] As the armed conflict continued, it led to a steady flow of Kurdish refugees into Turkey. The Baháʼí Faith had about 350,000 believers in Iran. According to the UN Special Representative, since 1979, many members of this community have left Iran illegally, due to state sanctioned persecution of Bahá'ís, often to go to Turkey and if possible to West from Turkey.[16]

During the same period; 51,542 Iraqis (Iraqis in Turkey) became refugees in Turkey.[17] The Iran–Iraq War and Kurdish rebellion of 1983 caused first large influx of refugees from the region.

Amnesty International and UNHCR pressured Turkey (not respecting human rights) for Iranian refugees, and that tactic backfired when Turkey recognized "the West" closed its own doors on the same refugees later in the decade.[18]

Iraqi Kurds fleeing to Turkey in April 1991, during the Gulf War

1.85 million Kurds fled to the borders of Turkey and Iran.[19] About 450,000 Kurds were on the mountainsides where Turkey-Iraq border. UN SC Resolution 688 was passed, which paved the way for the Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a Combined Task Force (CTF) charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq, following refugee flow to Turkey.

Final tally for Gulf War was at least 1 Million people fled (almost 30% of the population) to Iran, Turkey and Pakistan.[20]

Refugee numbers greatly increased in the following years of War in Afghanistan especially in regards to Afghans and Iraqis. As of January 2010, 25,580 refugees and asylum seekers remain in the country. Of these, 5090 Iranians, 8940 Iraqis, 3850 Afghans and 2700 "other" (including Somalis, Uzbeks, Palestinians and others). As of January 2011, 8710 Iranians, 9560 Afghans, 7860 other. As of January 2012 7890 (Iranians, Afghans,and other).[21]

Refugees of the Syrian Civil War in Turkey are the Syrian refugees originated from Syrian Civil War, Turkey is hosting over 3.6 million (2019 number) "registered" refugees and delivered aid reaching $30 billion (total between 2011 and 2018) on refugee assistance. Read more...

Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) focuses on the mobility trends, migrant profiles and urgent needs of migrants. The data generated allows the organizations and the government to plan their short and long term migration-related program and policies.

Compared to international refugee regime (Refugee law), Turkey has a different approach which they named it as "morality oriented approach" instead of security centered (Refugee#Security threats) approach towards Syrians refugees.[23] Turkey have high expenses on refugee care (housing, employment, education and health), including the medical expenses (no discount from western medicine companies), with a minimal support from other countries.[24]

Refugees impact on economic and social issues:[25]

• increases in food and house prices and property rents.
• low-paid refugees increased the unemployment rate (southern Turkey).

Turkey-Syria Barrier

The border between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Turkey is about 822 kilometres (511 mi) long.[26] The Syria–Turkey barrier is a border wall and fence under construction along the Syria–Turkey border aimed at preventing illegal crossings and smuggling.[27]

The Iran–Turkey barrier, finished spring 2019, at the Turkey-Iran border aimed to prevent illegal crossings and smuggling across the border. It will cover 144 kilometres (89 mi) of the very high mountainous 499 kilometres (310 mi) border with natural barriers.

In the Black Sea region, countries are both source and destination for refugees. For the destination to Turkey; originating Moldova, Ukraine, Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are target for human trafficking (migration using ships, ship operators are smugglers). The top 5 countries of destination in the region between 2000 and 2007 were Russia (1,860), Turkey (1,157), Moldova (696), Albania (348) and Serbia (233).[28]

A Turkish police crack down resulted in the termination of a network mainly helped Afghan, Iraqi and Syrian nationals cross into European countries.[29]

See: Spillover of the Syrian Civil War#Turkey, Refugees as weapons#Syrian Civil War

In Turkey, public opinion towards intervention is correlated with their daily exposure to refugees. In Turkish people, emphasizing the negative forces created by hosting refugees, including their connection with militants, increases support for intervention. Turkish people living at border, Turkey don't use border refugees camps and they are distributed across turkey, don't support intervention.[30]

The Government of Turkey recognized that the traditional immigration laws need to be organized and updated under these new circumstances. The first domestic law on asylum, before covered under secondary legislation such as administrative circulars.[31]

The rules and regulations in providing protection and assistance to Syrians is established by "The Law on Foreigners and International Protection and the Temporary Protection Regulation." Law provide the legal basis of their "refugee status" and establishing temporary protection to Syrians and international protection to applicants and refugees of other nationalities. The basis of any/all assistance to refugees, including access to health and education services, as well as access to legal employment is defined under this law.[32] The Law states that foreigners and others with international protection will not be sent back to places where they will be tortured, suffer inhumane treatment or punishment that is humiliating, or be threatened due to race, religion, or group membership.[33] Law created an agency under the Turkish Ministry of Justice on international protection, which also implement related regulations. Investigative authority is established to question marriages between Turkish citizens and foreigners for the “reasonable suspicions” of fraud.[34] The uninterrupted residence permits for eight years will be able to receive unlimited residence permits.[34]

As of 16 March 2018, there is a modification to law; following the passage of the law 21 official "Temporary Protection Centres" (TPCs) in provinces along the Syrian border established,[35] the Directorate-General of Migration Management of Turkey (DGMM), under the Ministry of Interior, has assumed responsibility for TPCs from Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.

Migration is part of accession of Turkey to the European Union. On Mar 16, 2016, Cyprus is became hurdle to EU-Turkey deal on migrant crisis. The EU illicitly linked advancing membership bid to a settlement of the decades-old Cyprus dispute, further complicating efforts to win Ankara's help in resolving Europe's migration crisis.[37]

EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan and decline in refugees from Greece[38]

In 2012, the governments of Turkey and Greece have agreed to work together, to implement border control.[39] In response to Syrian crisis; Greece built a razor-wire fence in 2012 along its short land border with Turkey.[40]

A period beginning in 2015, The European migrant crisis is characterized by rising numbers of people arriving in the European Union (EU) from across the Mediterranean Sea or overland through Southeast Europe. In September 2015, Turkish provincial authorities gave approximately 1,700 migrants three days to leave the border zone.[41] As a result of Greece's diversion of migrants to Bulgaria from Turkey, Bulgaria built its own fence to block migrants crossing from Turkey.[40]

The EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan prioritizes border security and develops mechanisms to keep refugees inside Turkey [prevent migration to EU states].[25] The amount allocated [EU: €3 billion] for financial support for 2016–2018 will ease the financial burden [Turkey: $30 billion between 2011 and 2018] but not better living conditions.[25]

These are the items as stated in the agreement:[25]

• All new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey to the Greek islands as of 20 March 2016 will be returned to Turkey;
• For every Syrian being returned to Turkey from the Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled to the EU;
• Turkey will take any necessary measures to prevent new sea or land routes for irregular migration opening from Turkey to the EU;
• Once irregular crossings between Turkey and the EU are ending or have been substantially reduced, a Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme will be activated;
• The EU will, in close cooperation with Turkey, further speed up the disbursement of the initially allocated €3 billion under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. Once these resources are about to be used in full, the EU will mobilize additional funding for the Facility up to an additional €3 billion to the end of 2018;
• The EU and Turkey will work to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria.

— EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan

European states denies refugees from Turkey. On 18 May 2016, lawmakers from the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) have said that Turkey should not use Syrian refugees as a bribe for the process of visa liberalization for Turkish citizens inside the European Union.[42]

The UNHCR (not a party) criticized and declined to be involved in returns.[43] Médecins Sans Frontières, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Save the Children declined to be involved. These organization object the blanket expulsion of refugees contravened international law.[44]

In 2019 Greece, resumed deportations in addressing an increase of refugees over the summer months.[45]

Syrian peace process and de-escalation are ongoing efforts beginning as early as 2011. Return of refugees of the Syrian Civil War is the returning to the place of origin (Syria) of a Syrian refugee. Turkey promoted the idea of de-escalation regions from 2015, world powers declined to help create a zone (example: Iraq safe zone established by Operation Provide Comfort) to protect civilians.[46] Regarding safety of the refugees, progress needs to be made before any significant returns can be planned for. Turkey, Russia and Iran agreed in 2017 to create the Idlib demilitarization (2018–present). (March 2017 and May 2017 Astana talks: De-escalation zones) As of 2019, Idleb and Eastern Ghouta, de-escalation zones remain insecure. President Erdogan says Syria's Idlib, de-escalation zone in Syria's Idlib region, slowly disappearing.[47] Idlib's safe zone is more like conflict zone in a way Aleppo conflict zone (referring to Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016).[47] In 2019, Northern Syria Buffer Zone is a thin strip of the border in northern Syria which will be a “safe zone” and can only be achieved by finding a solution to the conflicting goals of Russia and the United States. A safe zone will stem the wave of migrations, but Turkey will also clear its border of Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters.[46]