New figures released by Turkey’s Directorate General of Migration Management show that Turkish authorities detained 19,574 Afghanistan migrants across the country during the first six months of 2026, making Afghanistan the largest group of detained undocumented migrants.

According to the agency, approximately 70,000 undocumented migrants of various nationalities were detained nationwide during the first half of the year.

After Afghanistan nationals, the largest numbers of detainees were citizens of Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, and Yemen, respectively.

The Directorate General of Migration Management said the individuals were detained for lacking valid residence or legal immigration documents. The agency did not provide details on the fate of those detained or the number of people who have been deported. It also reported that more than 6,000 people were arrested during the same period on charges related to human trafficking.

Turkish police and coast guard forces regularly conduct large-scale operations targeting undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, particularly Afghanistan nationals, resulting in arrests and deportations. According to the United Nations, Turkey deported more than 13,000 Afghanistan migrants during the first five months of this year.