Germany and Switzerland Implement Tough Stance on Illegal Immigration: Afghan Nationals to Be Returned to Turkey

The governments of Germany and Switzerland have announced that illegal immigrants, particularly Afghan nationals, will be returned to Turkey under the framework of the readmission agreement. This action follows the receipt of 3 billion euros from Turkey, and it is expected that in the coming years, about one million illegal refugees from various countries will be returned from Europe to Turkey to be transferred from there to their countries of origin…

​Return Policy to Turkey for Criminals and Human Traffickers

The Turkish publication Sozcu reported that following Germany, the Swiss government has also announced that Afghan nationals who commit crimes in this country or enter illegally will be returned to Turkey. This policy reflects a new hardline approach by Europe towards illegal immigrants. According to this report, recently, an Afghan national who is serving time in a Swiss prison for committing a serious crime has been transferred by plane to Turkey. It has been announced that these individuals will ultimately be transferred from Turkey back to their country of origin, namely Afghanistan. Additionally, Turkey accepts trafficked refugees being returned from European countries in small groups of three and five.

​Readmission Agreement and the 3 Billion Euro Cost

This extensive return process is based on the readmission agreement that Turkey signed with the European Union. Under this agreement, Turkey will accept illegal immigrants who have entered Europe in exchange for receiving 3 billion euros to be paid in three installments. It is expected that in the coming years, about one million illegal refugees from countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Africa, and Central Asian countries will be returned from European countries to Turkey.

​Ongoing Domestic Operations in Turkey and Unofficial Detention Statistics

Alongside the commencement of the return process from Europe, Turkey has also continued extensive operations to combat illegal immigration across the country since the beginning of 2025 AD. Some Afghan and international media claim that during this period, more than 30,000 Afghan refugees have been detained during these operations. However, this number has not yet been officially confirmed by the Immigration Department or the Ministry of Interior of Turkey.