Filenews 6 September 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
A reversal of the situation that had been created until April last year in relation to the migration issue was achieved with four moves, resulting in an unprecedented decrease in arrivals with a parallel increase in departures.
The numbers tell the truth about immigration, since from 17,500 arrivals in 2022, we reached only 1,600 this year. At the same time, departures hit red, since this year we have almost 2,000 more than in the same period last year. "F" spoke with the Head of Operations of the Aliens and Immigration Service, Petros Zenios, who stressed that the situation changed drastically after the migration management policy changed. Following instructions from the Minister of Justice, Marios Hartsiotis, in April 2024 and a political decision at the national level to increase maritime patrols and intensify returns, The operational management of illegal immigration has changed and brought results.
As it states, from 2021 to April 2024, there had been a significant increase in the arrivals of irregular migrants in the areas controlled by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, both by sea and from the occupied areas through the green line. Specifically, during 2021, the total number of illegal arrivals of irregular migrants amounted to 12,391 cases, of which 11,670 from the occupied areas. For 2022, the number of illegal arrivals amounted to 17,434, of which 16,627 were from the occupied areas.
In the year 2023, the number of arrivals was limited to 10,994 cases, of which 6,737 concerned illegal passages from the occupied territories to the free areas.
During the first four months of 2024, there was a significant increase in the arrival of irregular migrants of 10% compared to the same period of 2023. Therefore, and taking into account the large number of arrivals in Cyprus that resulted in the presence of a large number of irregular migrants in the Pournara KEPY, in April 2024 decisions were taken at national level that concern an integrated and holistic operational management of the challenges of irregular migration. It should be noted that assistance was requested from the European Commission as well as from the relevant agencies, Europol, Interpol and Frontex.
In particular, it was decided that the operational activities would focus on the following four actions:
I. Guarding the external borders and surveillance of the Green Line.
II. Dismantling irregular migrant smuggling rings and combating cross-border crime.
III. Combating illegal employment and detecting and arresting foreigners illegally residing in Cyprus.
IV. Removal of foreigners who are dangerous to national and public order and security, as well as of illegally residing foreigners through the voluntary or compulsory procedure.
On the basis of these decisions, Mr. Zeniou adds, the following actions were tackled:
– Guarding the external borders and monitoring the green line. On this basis, increased surveillance of the maritime borders was initiated to prevent the illegal arrival of irregular migrants by sea. Patrols at the maritime external borders of the Republic of Cyprus have increased based on the results of risk and threat analysis. In addition to the members of the Port and Maritime Police, members of the Hellenic Maritime Police also participate in the patrols. At the same time, increased surveillance of the green line is being carried out in order to prevent illegal crossings from the occupied areas to the free areas. Within this framework, it has been decided to create a sub-directorate for the surveillance of the Green Line and dealing with migration flows, the mission of which, among other things, includes the continuous surveillance of the line with technical means and physical presence.
At the same time, increased controls began at the official entry/exit points at the external borders of the Republic (ports and airports), as well as at the barricades, in order to prevent the illegal entry/exit of migrants by various illegal methods (forged documents, impersonation, etc.). Within the framework of this activity, a number of YAM members have been properly trained by the Frontex Agency to detect false, falsified documents and/or cases of impersonation.
Finally, the smuggling of irregular migrants and the fight against cross-border crime were cracked. Members of the rings are based and operate in third countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. These countries include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran and Iraq. With regard to EU Member States, based on information from Europol, it has emerged that members of the illegal rings reside in several Member States including Germany, Greece, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, etc. As of February 2024, the Unit for the Fight Against Migrant Smuggling Rings (K.K.P.D.M.), which is subordinate to the Ministry of Transport, was created. The mission of this Unit is to collect, analyse and process information related to migrant smuggling rings and cross-border crime with the ultimate aim of dismantling them through the appropriate use of information, including operational cooperation with EU Agencies (Europol, Interpol and Frontex).
It was also considered a key element for the fight against irregular migration, the fight against illegal employment and the identification and arrest of illegally residing foreigners from Cyprus.
Illegal employment is one of the most important factors that attracts migrants to choose Cyprus as their final destination country, Mr. Zeniou points out. Therefore, it has been decided to increase the operational activities of the Police and the Police together with other co-competent services in order to identify and arrest illegally employed foreigners.
Finally, efforts were intensified for the forced removal of foreigners who are dangerous to national and public order and security, as well as of illegally residing foreigners through the voluntary or forced procedure. So far, a number of migrants who have been documented to pose a threat to national and public order and security or who are involved in serious cross-border crime have been removed.
25% increase in migrant returns
As it has been established, says the Deputy Commander of Operations of the Ministry of Finance, the above actions and operational activities of the Police have brought very positive results, since the illegal arrivals of irregular migrants have drastically decreased and at the same time the number of evacuations of illegally residing foreigners has increased significantly.
As can be seen from the data, from 2023 onwards there is a significant decrease in the arrivals of irregular migrants in Cyprus. It should be noted that compared to the period January – August 2024 with the corresponding period of 2025, the number of arrivals decreased drastically from 4,871 to 1,638 cases.
It is noteworthy that the corresponding number of expulsions of illegally residing foreigners has increased more and specifically by 25%, i.e. from 6,897, the number has risen to 8,651. It is also important to note that of the 8,651 cases of removal of illegally residing foreigners this year, 3,471 concern Syrian nationals who return to their country or to neighbouring countries, voluntarily.
