The Libyan Consulate General in Istanbul has called on Libyan citizens in Turkey to possess their passports and residence cards while moving around after the Turkish authorities announced a campaign to crack down on illegal immigrants and resident violators.
In an advisory post on Facebook, the consulate said, "The Minister of Interior launched a campaign in all Turkish states, through which illegal immigrants and residents who entered Turkey on a regular visa and continued to reside after the expiry of the visa period or did not renew their residency could face detention and expulsion."
The consulate indicated that it had agreed with the Turkish Immigration Department to exclude specific medical cases from the new decision.
According to the statement, overstayers who have experienced fresh health issues could apply for a medical stay, while patients with old health issues could only receive treatment after leaving the country and re-entering on a new visa.
The consulate advised those who fear expulsion to minimize their movement only when necessary, especially in the Sisli area of Istanbul, cautioning that police could arrest them for lacking the relevant documents while traveling.
