Over 80K Turkish nationals at risk of deportation under Trump’s orders

Thousands of Turkish nationals in the United States could face deportation under new immigration policies initiated by President Donald Trump.

A recent executive order granting authority to detain and remove undocumented migrants has brought renewed attention to the growing number of Turkish citizens entering the country through unauthorized means.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, 55,808 Turkish nationals entered the U.S. illegally between January 2021 and August 2024.

That figure has since climbed to an estimated 60,000, highlighting a sharp increase in migration from Türkiye in recent years. Many of these individuals crossed into the U.S. illegally to seek asylum via Mexico and Canada.

While most were apprehended at the border, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that 15,151 Turkish nationals are currently held in immigration detention facilities.

US asylees wait months until cases are heard

These facilities, officially referred to as “camps,” are often described by detainees as prisons. Conditions in these centers have drawn criticism, with some detainees awaiting months for their asylum cases to be heard.

Turkish nationals seeking asylum in the U.S. must present their claims before immigration courts. If their requests are approved, and a U.S. citizen sponsors them, they can secure release from detention within weeks or months. However, those whose asylum claims are denied face deportation to Türkiye.

The combined number of Turkish nationals detained and undocumented in the U.S. is estimated to exceed 80,000. Under Trump’s executive orders, these individuals are at risk of removal, prompting widespread concern among immigrant rights advocates.