Türkiye Expands Digital Migration Controls as Interior Officials Outline New Strategy
By Bosphorus News Türkiye Desk
On April 11, Türkiye's migration authorities used the 13th anniversary of the Directorate of Migration Management to present a framework built on border surveillance, mobile enforcement and digital systems, describing it as a model for migration governance.
In a statement marking the anniversary, Hüseyin Kök said Türkiye had developed a structure that is "setting an example at a global scale," while officials also confirmed that the targets set under the 2021–2025 Strategic Plan had been fully completed.
Kök said a new 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and National Action Plan had been finalised, outlining the next phase of migration policy and institutional coordination.
Officials describe the current system as built around a five-pillar strategy targeting irregular migration, combining border security, internal enforcement, return mechanisms, international cooperation and governance tools.
Border controls have been expanded through a mix of physical and technological measures. Authorities point to the use of electro-optical towers, seismic sensors and aerial surveillance, including drones, along key migration routes.
At the operational level, the Migration Management Presidency's Risk Analysis Center, known as UKORAM, has been used since 2021 to monitor migration flows and identify patterns, feeding into real-time assessments.
Internal enforcement has also been scaled up through the "Mobile Migration Point" system. Officials say 375 mobile units are currently deployed across the country, carrying out on-site identity checks and status verification.
Digital platforms form another layer of the system. Tools such as e-residence, GÖÇBİL and electronic notification systems are used to process applications and coordinate between institutions.
Officials also point to return figures as a key indicator. According to official data, more than 650,000 Syrians have returned voluntarily since December 8, 2024, bringing the total number of voluntary returns since 2016 to over 1.39 million.
The framework presented by migration authorities places technology, field enforcement and centralized coordination at the centre of Türkiye's approach as the government moves into a new strategic cycle running through 2030.