Filenews 26 August 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivassilis
Deportations-returns of illegal immigrants increased sharply this year compared to 2020, while they increased eightfold compared to 2019. Arrests of traffickers are also on the rise.
According to police data, this year (until August 19) 3,680 foreigners were either deported or returned to their countries voluntarily compared to 2,320 in 2021 and 1,272 in 2020. In 2019, deportations were very limited and reached only 417, however at that time there was no explosion with the migratory flows from the occupied territories. As the police spokesman, Christos Andreou, told "F", the deportations or returns concerned the known countries of origin, namely the countries of Africa (Congo, Nigeria and Somalia) Syria, and the countries of Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal) along with Georgia.
The Police, either through their operations or during the random checks, when they identify persons who are illegally in Cyprus, because their residence permit expired, or because they came illegally and their asylum application was rejected, then proceeds to their arrest and promotes their deportation. This is often not an easy task, because a return flight has to be found and their country must accept them. Until recently, Pakistan did not accept its nationals back and that is why they boarded flights from Germany and returned to their country. During deportations there are always police officers accompanying those returning to their countries.
The Ministry of Interior has been operating since last year an Office responsible for the return of migrants under the director of the minister's office, since according to Nikos Nouris, it cannot be that on the one hand informal immigrants come by the hundreds and not leave when they do not meet the criteria. According to him, the returns for 2022 exceeded the total number of returns achieved in 2021, reaching more than 3,000 by June. He said that contacts are continuing with third countries for the repatriation of their nationals whose application for political asylum was rejected. Mr. Nouris added that a plan of incentives has been prepared and is being implemented to encourage voluntary returns among third-country nationals in their countries of origin. Information indicates that an amount is given to those who accept to return to their country.
Meanwhile, information from "F" reports that recently the Minister of Interior has asked the Police to change practice and make arrangements so that there are police officers in the Administrative Court for International Protection, which examines appeals of foreigners after the rejection of their hierarchical appeals. According to the new arrangements, when the Court rejects an appeal by a person seeking political asylum or temporary protection, he will be arrested and transferred to the Mennogia detention facilities in order to make all arrangements for him to be deported to his country.
Already, instructions have been given by the Chief of Police to place police officers in the Administrative Court of International Protection for the immediate arrest of those whose appeal is rejected. This action, as explained to "F", does not affect the right of someone to file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the decision to reject the application for political asylum. In the event that his appeal succeeds, he will be able to return back to Cyprus.
The problem with the mass arrests of persons whose applications for asylum or temporary protection status are rejected (mainly for Syrians) is the lack of places of detention. At the moment the detention facilities in Mennogia are almost full and only with the constant departures and returns will it be possible to transfer new people there. As mentioned in "F", the problem will be solved to a large extent with the construction and operation of the Pre-removal Centre, also in Mennogia, which will have a capacity of 800-1000 people and those who are to be returned to their countries will be transferred to it.
Five traffickers in a day
A heavy blow to the traffickers was dealt this year by the authorities and especially by the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Police. It has examined over 20 cases and has arrested several persons who were found to be escorts of the migrants, or helped them enter Cyprus for a fee.
As Mr. Andreou informed us, yesterday with the arrival of two boats in the area of Cape Greco, it was found in one case of the arrival of five Syrians that there was also a trafficker, who was arrested. In the second case there were 32 Syrians on the boat, six of whom were minors. Tests identified four traffickers. All five suspects were brought before the Famagusta District Court yesterday, which postponed their detention process until today because there was no translator available. The authorities are investigating against them a case of assisting third-country nationals with a view to entering the Republic and for assistance for profit. Mr. Andreou underlined that the Police proceed to the registration of such cases immediately, so that where the guilt of the accused is established, they are punished. He also said that the authorities are vigilant about the phenomena of migrant smuggling, since the networks are taking advantage of the desire of some for a better tomorrow. They also profit from refugees and migrants, taking them from €3,000 to €5,000, in order to transfer them either from the Turkish coast, or from Latakia or Lebanon to the Cypriot authorities. Many times they even promise them that they will be taken to the coast of Italy, while sending them to the shores of our country.
INTERVENTION
We reap what we sowed
The return or deportation of those whose applications for political asylum are rejected is an important chapter of migration. When a country receives large migration flows, then there are two things it must do to deal with the problem, always respecting the international conventions on the rights of refugees:
A) To examine their applications with fast procedures so as not to burden the system.
B) Have initiated repatriation procedures by signing interstate agreements or making arrangements through Frontex, the EU's migration agency. In Cyprus only in the last year we have moved in these directions, leaving thousands of people here without a residence permit. We are now reaping what we have sown.
