After 13 years, the changes in Syria have unfolded like a 2x time-lapse video. On 27 November, HTS announced the launch of an operation against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the western countryside of Aleppo. On 30 November, HTS and some factions took control of Aleppo and Idlib. Then images of Assad's statues being torn down began to emerge from the capital, Damascus. After 12 days, the 61-year rule of the Baath Party collapsed. How was the rapid change in Syria reflected on the borders after 13 years? These developments in Syria have also been reflected on the Turkish border. Since 8 December, refugees have continued to cross at the Cilvegözü border gate in Reyhanlı, the Yayladağı border gate in Samandağ and the Kilis border gates. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on 14 December that a total of 7,621 Syrians had returned to their country. The crossings continue, sometimes increasing and sometimes decreasing. Is it possible for those whose refugee status has expired to return to Turkey? On 10 December, at first light, we went to the Cilvegözü border crossing to follow the crossings. Suitcases were being carried in vehicles lined up along the road, sacks were being gathered in one place and refugees were running left and right with papers in their hands. International journalists were in the majority, as were national media. So how does the process work at the border? Those returning to Syria first hand their identity cards to mobile migration vehicles. The officials check whether they have tax or traffic debts, or whether they have been sued. If there is a case against them, or if they are wanted, they are taken to the repatriation centre or police station for processing. Families who pass the check 'cleanly' end their lives here and move on to their old countries. According to the information we have confirmed from the commanders working on the border, 'those who have not returned to Syria for good' are not allowed to cross. In other words, going, looking and returning is out of the question. Because their identity cards will be confiscated and they will lose their 'temporary protection status'. Are returns voluntary? Another problem at the border is the lack of information about the system. "When you cross the border, your identity card is cancelled, you are not allowed to cross again," I asked a young refugee, to which she replied with a laugh: "Sister, we know the way, we go back the way we came". Mobile migrant vehicles, soup kitchens... What is the state of preparedness at the border? The busiest border crossing is at Cilvegözü. Compared to the first day, the preparations at the border gates are more organised. Migration Directorate mobile vehicles have been brought to almost every gate. The Red Crescent, AFAD and the Blue Crescent have set up mobile soup kitchens at the border. We can say that this preparation of the borders is a harbinger that the departures will continue gradually. The officials working at the border are very solution-oriented. There is almost no bureaucracy. For example, the departure of refugees who have lost their ID cards, who have not renewed their ID cards or who have never received an ID card is organised in an instant. The Yayladağı Gate, which we reached in the evening, was silent. Opened after 11 years, only one family was waiting to be processed. The family had to walk 300 metres after crossing the border. We were told that 'relatives with a car were waiting for the family'. Who are the people who cross the border? What do they feel? Most of the people who cross are young and single men, but there are some who come back with their families. The majority come from towns near the border. The provinces of Antakya, Maraş, Osmaniye and Adana are the most common.Apart from suitcases, the belongings piled up along the border include stoves, blankets, sacks of clothes, televisions, pressure cookers and tea cups. Judging by their belongings, most of the departing families are poor and barely surviving in Turkey. Most of the children have learned to speak Turkish, but there are almost no women.One mother, who has lived in Maraş for 12 years, has not learned a word of Turkish and has never left Maraş.This family, which we met at the border, consists of 5 people.Except for the eldest son, the others were born in Turkey. Their son worked in the bakery with his father, while his two sisters went to school from time to time.The family is returning to Idlib.The father will continue his work there. A shop has already been prepared and renovated.Although the children do not want to leave Maraş, where they were born and grew up, their mother is ready to leave as soon as possible. What awaits children born in Turkey in Syria? It remains to be seen how children born in Turkey will be integrated in Syria. The 13-year migration crisis has been carried out without an integration policy, and we do not know what impact it will have on reverse migration. There is no trace of the old country among the returnees. Most of the young men we spoke to at the border came to Turkey as children. They started working at a young age to support their families. Now they want to go back and work in Syria. Saleh Amadi is 15 years old and travelling alone. He came to Turkey from Idlib 4 years ago. To support his family, he worked with his brother in shoe factories in Ikitelli for 4 years. He was lost and very confused while waiting. Finally he said: "I will not miss Istanbul". The departure of Syrians is a gateway to work for Turks The number of entrepreneurial Turks looking to make a profit at the border is growing. The tea and coffee stalls set up on the first day are quite rich. They offer everything from smuggled cigarettes to all kinds of snacks. The transport of refugees trying to reach the border is carried out by Turkish citizens. The brother carrying a family from Osmaniye explains his job by saying: 'I earn money and serve my country'. Most of the young people are carrying loads with iron wheelbarrows. The price of carrying a round of suitcases is 100 TL. Who will feed the 'hunger for cheap labour' of the local capital? The passage of refugees who left their lives and childhoods in Syria to put their labour at the service of Turkish capital seems to have worried Turkish capital.In a video posted on social media, a textile boss worried about the departure of Syrians said; "Friends, you said the foreigners should leave, the foreigners have left. We are left with Edi and Büdü.We work with 2 people.5 machines are empty. 5 foreigners have left and I am left with these goods.Who will I sew with now?You told the foreigners to leave, and they did.What will happen now?The foreigners are gone and the textile is finished". According to TurkStat, there are around 108,000 Syrian workers in Turkey. This figure only includes registered workers, i.e. those with work permits.If unregistered workers are included, the figure rises to 2 million.In 13 years, refugee workers, who are seen as 'cheap labour', have also faced numerous violations. Labour murders have been covered up with 'blood money'. We will see in the coming days what incentives will replace the refugee labour that is indispensable for capital. What kind of life awaits returnees in Syria? Uncertainty continues to reign in Syria, where the "dignified, voluntary and safe return" project is being implemented. On Tuesday 10 December, one dollar was worth 40,000 Syrian liras. Today it has fallen to 18 thousand Syrian liras. Bread is still very expensive and there is no infrastructure. The returning families are of course aware of these uncertainties, but the excitement of reuniting with their families outweighs their worries. One refugee woman, who was not allowed to speak on behalf of her family, subtly described her excitement: "My heart is overwhelmed." How will changes in European countries' refugee policies affect Turkey? Before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) finalised its report on the security situation in Syria, European countries issued a red card to refugees. Last week, Germany suspended 47,000 asylum applications from Syria. Germany was followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Italy. Austria went even further and announced that it would start 'deportation' procedures. Judging by the preparations at Turkey's borders, we could see a wave of deportations from Europe in the coming days. On 12 December, Minister Yerlikaya met with civil society organisations working on Syria and migration. According to information we received behind the scenes, the minister asked the NGOs to prepare a 'return project'. But how will these 'return projects' be prepared and what disciplines will be applied? How compatible are repatriation projects with the UN principles of safety, sustainability and voluntariness? According to UNHCR, repatriation programmes are based on three main principles: Voluntariness, Security and Sustainability. If we analyse Syria on the basis of these three principles, it is not difficult to predict the outcome. Dr. Yıldız Önen, spokesperson for the Refugee Rights Platform, summarises the system that should operate for 'returns' as follows: "For a safe return, a repatriation agreement must be signed between the countries where the refugees are concentrated and the Syrian government, under the supervision of the United Nations. Returns without such an agreement would not be in accordance with UN rules. Full information on voluntary repatriation must be provided. It should be made clear to those who leave that signing a 'voluntary return form' will mean that they will not be able to return to Turkey. Refugees should be given the opportunity to visit Syria for short periods. They should be allowed to return to their countries and assess the current situation.