Deniz Sert, along with a scholar from Kadir Has University, explores the politics of (non-) deportability in Turkey by focusing on Afghan migrants, the largest community without formal protection in a country that hosts the most refugees globally. This research delves into how deportation policies are shaped and enacted for Afghans and the everyday strategies they use to navigate the constant risk of deportation. The study reveals that Turkey’s deportation policies are largely influenced by the demands of the informal labor market, which comprises roughly one-third of the national workforce. The f indings indicate that the state both tolerates and conceals the forced labor and hypermobility of Afghan migrants, using the constant threat of deportation as a means of discipline and control. This is against SDG 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth, by underscoring the need to address exploitative labor conditions and provide fair and secure employment for all workers, including migrants. The study further suggests that Afghans employ various strategies to avoid deportation, including leveraging their qawm-based (ethnic or kinship) networks, seeking support from Afghan associations, and engaging in street-level negotiations with authorities.