TÜRKİYE’S MIGRANT POLICIES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE CRIME OF MIGRANT SMUGGLING

As one of the oldest phenomena in the history of humanity, migration invol-ves demographic, anthropological, sociological, economic, and political as-pects. Migration can occur legally as well as illegally. Illegal migration signi-fies leaving a country, whether legally or illegally, and entering a new one through illegal ways or not leaving the new country after the permitted time limit has elapsed following legal entry. People who have left their territories to enter another country without the necessary permissions tend to circum-vent these requirements by relying on migrant smugglers. In most cases, ille-gal migrants are forced to risk their lives and savings, as well as the lives of their families, in the hopes of reaching some promised land where they will be secure and able to work in a decent job. While states have generally developed migration policies to protect their border security and fight against illegal migration, Türkiye prioritizes human rights in the framework of its migration policies. In this context, the study will first discuss Türkiye’s migration policy and its effects on the crime of migrant smuggling between Türkiye and the European Union.