Germany and Switzerland Initiate Afghan Repatriation to Turkey Amid Stricter Migration Policies

The governments of Germany and Switzerland have announced the return of illegal immigrants, particularly Afghan nationals, to Turkey under a readmission agreement. This action is taking place following Turkey’s receipt of €3 billion and is expected to result in the repatriation of around one million illegal refugees from various European countries to Turkey over the next few years…

Return Policy for Offenders and Traffickers

According to a report by Turkey’s Sozcu newspaper, after Germany, the Swiss government has also stated that Afghan nationals who commit crimes or enter the country illegally will be returned to Turkey. This policy reflects Europe’s increasingly stringent approach towards illegal migrants.

The report highlights that a recently incarcerated Afghan national, sentenced for a serious crime in Switzerland, was transferred to Turkey via airplane. It has been indicated that such individuals will ultimately be sent back to their country of origin, Afghanistan. Furthermore, Turkey is set to accept returned irregular migrants from European countries in small groups of three to five individuals.

Readmission Agreement and the €3 Billion Cost

This extensive repatriation process is based on a readmission agreement signed between Turkey and the European Union. Under this agreement, Turkey will accept illegal migrants who have entered Europe in exchange for receiving €3 billion, which will be disbursed in three installments.

In the coming years, it is anticipated that approximately one million illegal refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Africa, and Central Asian countries will be sent back from various European nations to Turkey.

Turkey’s Ongoing Domestic Operations and Unofficial Arrest Statistics

Simultaneously, as the return process begins from Europe, Turkey has also been conducting extensive operations to combat illegal migration across the country since the start of 2025.

Some Afghan and international media outlets claim that during this period, over 30,000 Afghan refugees have been detained in these operations. However, this figure has yet to be officially confirmed by either the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management or the Ministry of Interior.