Filenews 5 January 2026 - by Michalis Chatzivasilis
One of the most "good" years for migration and its management was the one that has just left us, since an unprecedented decrease in increases is recorded with a simultaneous increase in returns, at a time when other countries are groaning from the increased migration flows.
Regime change in Syria has contributed to a decline in migrant arrivals from this country, which has been the main source of origin for asylum seekers in previous years. But what played a decisive role in the reduction of arrivals was the political decision for sea patrols on the eastern coast of Cyprus, along with the increased vigilance on the Green Line. The Government's attitude towards the applicants who wanted to pass through points of the ceasefire line with the tolerance of UNFICYP, was decisive in preventing another passage for migrants from being opened.
"F" asked for the details of the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Police (YAM), which is on the front line to deal with the immigration issue. The Deputy Commander of the Service and head of operations, Petros Zeniou, told us that the reductions in arrivals are due to a combination of factors that mainly concern the political decision to monitor the sea borders, the rapid examination of asylum applications, the vigilance of the green line and returns, plus the fight against illegal employment. When a foreigner knows that he will not find a job, it will be difficult for him to make the decision to come to Cyprus, said Mr. Zeniou.
According to YAM data, the picture of immigration has changed drastically from 2023 onwards. Specifically, in 2022, arrivals reached 17,434 migrants, of which 16,627 through the occupied territories. At the same time, 41 boats carrying 807 irregular migrants arrived on the Cypriot coast. In '22, an increase in arrivals of 41% was recorded.
In 2023, the picture began to change with the measures taken by the then Minister of the Interior, Nikos Nouris, in '22, which were judged to be excessive and unnecessary (barbed wire on the Green Line, measures at sea). There were 10,994 arrivals of illegal immigrants in Cyprus, of which 6,737 through the occupied territories, while the arrivals of boats with migrants broke all records as they amounted to 109 carrying 4,257 persons. From '23, the large decrease in the arrivals of irregular immigrants began, after it was recorded -37% compared to '22.
The additional measures taken by the Government of Nikos Christodoulides brought a sharp decrease in the arrivals of irregular migrants in 2024, especially after April, when it was decided to patrol the vessels of the Port and Maritime Police on the eastern coasts of our country. Total arrivals decreased by 44% after the irregular migrants who knocked on the door of Cyprus in '24 were 6,109, of which 3,250 arrived through occupied territories and another 2,859 through 51 boats by sea.
The year that has just left us was the "best" in terms of migrant arrivals, since from 17.5 thousand in 2022, in 2025 they decreased to 2,437, of which only 152 by sea with 8 boats and the remaining 2,285 through occupied areas. It is noted that of the 152 irregular migrants who came through boats, 42 were minors, which shows the overwhelming reduction in arrivals of unaccompanied minors by 95%.
288 traffickers were handcuffed
The increase of '22 became a decrease for traffickers in 2025. The reduction in migrant arrivals also had an impact on the dismantling of migrant smuggling rings, which was natural due to the reduction in migration flows and the sentencing of many smugglers to prison. At the moment, 35 people, most of them Syrians, are being held in the Central Prison, who were convicted of human traffickers.
According to the data of the Aliens and Immigration Service, in 2025 9 persons were identified and arrested for the illegal trafficking of 18 migrants. In 2024, 70 traffickers of 85 irregular migrants were arrested, compared to 124 traffickers caught in 2023, which was the largest number so far, because they were trafficking 153 persons, mostly who came by sea. Also, in 2022, 85 traffickers were identified and arrested for 135 persons.
Where our country has shown positive results in the management of migration is the returns of migrants to their countries of origin, a fact that is recognized in Europe and many countries have been interested in learning how to handle migrants under deportation. Our country, through the special allowance it grants to immigrants, essentially convinces them to leave voluntarily and return to their countries, rather than deport them without receiving anything. Thus, with European funds, he gives from 800-1500 euros plus the return ticket, an action that convinces a foreigner who would have been deported anyway, to voluntarily leave for his country.
With this strategy, in 2022 7,506 migrants were deported or voluntarily returned to their home countries, of which 6,546 voluntarily, in 2023 another 9,699 irregular migrants departed, of which 7,491 voluntarily, while in 2024 we had 10,092 deportations or voluntary departures. Last year, there was a record in the return of migrants to their countries and this was also contributed by the change of regime in Syria, where several Syrians expressed their intention to return to their country since they no longer feel in danger. Specifically, in 2025, 2,547 persons were deported, while another 9,167 left voluntarily, of which 4,226 were Syrians, a total of 11,714 foreigners, i.e. those who never left in such a large number.
347 employers 'illegal employment'
The Aliens and Immigration Service also emphasized the illegal employment of foreigners. In cooperation with the Department of Labour, several inspections were carried out, as a result of which 347 cases of illegal employment against an equal number of employers involving 571 foreigners were examined in 2025. Many cases were forwarded to the Courts, while the foreigners were arrested and procedures were initiated for their deportation.
In 2024, 400 cases of illegal employment involving 410 employers and 614 employed foreigners were investigated. In 2023, 220 employer arrests were made for 216 cases involving 381 illegal workers, while in '22, 228 cases were investigated against 230 employers illegally employing 357 foreigners. The main jobs concerned agriculture and animal husbandry, construction and the catering sector.
