https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/government-achieves-historic-50-drop-in-asylum-applications
There is a 50% reduction in the period March-October 2023 in new asylum applications compared to the 2022 corresponding period, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday, noting at the same time that for the first time, the overall balance of arrivals-returns presents a positive picture, and Cyprus is now ranking in the first places among European states in absolute numbers of returns....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-sees-33-drop-in-new-asylum-applications-compared-to-19-eu-increase
In August 2023, the European Union saw a 19% increase in new asylum seekers compared to the same period in 2022, with 91,735 applications recorded. ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-bar-association-under-scrutiny-for-alleged-misleading-of-asylum-seekers
The President of the Pancypriot Bar Association, Michalis Vorkas, has confirmed today that the association is facing complaints from the Ministry of the Interior regarding allegations of lawyers misleading asylum seekers....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/28-individuals-facing-deportation-after-pournara-riots
In response to threats to public order, Cyprus has issued 28 orders for detention and deportation. ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/deportation-process-in-motion-for-pournara-riot-participants
Authorities intend to immediately initiate procedures for deportation for those proven to be involved in yesterday's riots at "Pournara" First Reception Centre in Kokkinotrimithia, as Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou said on Tuesday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/more-illegal-migrants-repatriated-from-cyprus
In a joint operation coordinated by the European agency FRONTEX, 14 third-country nationals who were residing unlawfully in Cyprus were repatriated to their respective countries today....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-races-to-accommodate-migrants-at-pournara
In response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Republic of Cyprus has submitted a formal request for assistance to the European Union....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/how-tens-of-thousands-snag-caribbean-golden-passports-for-$100-000
Tens of thousands of passports have been obtained by Russians, Iranians, Chinese and others from Caribbean nations, granting them visa-free travel to European countries, according to a report by the European Commission....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-appeals-for-eu-coordination-on-refugee-challenges
Cyprus calls for coordinated action at the EU level to deal with a possible new influx of refugees as a result of the war between Hamas and Israel, Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, said during the first day of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/minister-highlights-success-in-reducing-migration-from-occupied-areas
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou welcomed the announcement of the EU’s Action Plan for the management of migration in the Eastern Mediterranean, ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/tunisian-gunman-in-brussels-attack-entered-europe-illegally-via-italy
In a recent tragic incident, a Tunisian terrorist, Abdelsalem Lassoued, entered Europe illegally through Italy and went on to commit a deadly attack in Brussels. ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/over-400-pets-rescued-in-spain-s-anti-trafficking-sting
A troubling incident unfolded on Wednesday morning when a 24-year-old foreigner, who had been seeking asylum in Cyprus, resorted to self-immolation in front of the Immigration and Aliens Service in Larnaca....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-unveils-east-med-action-plan-to-stem-migration-flows
The European Commission has unveiled an EU Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean in anticipation of the forthcoming meetings, including the Justice and Home Affairs Council scheduled for October 19 and the European Council on October 26-27....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-partners-bracing-for-interior-minister-s-warning-on-refugee-flows
Cyprus Minister of the Interior will express to his EU counterparts the deep worry about the possibility of increased flows of refugees from the conflict areas in the Eastern Mediterranean to the EU countries and particularly the frontline member states....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/larnaca-migrant-sets-himself-on-fire-after-being-denied-asylum
A grave incident transpired on the morning of Wednesday, October 18, when a 24-year-old foreign national, having been denied asylum, doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire outside the Immigration and Asylum Service in Larnaca....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-leads-eu-in-asylum-seeker-returns-4th-in-deportations
Cyprus ranks first among the EU member states in the percentage of returns on new asylum seekers applications, Interior Ministry announced Thursday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/president-addresses-eu-s-future-climate-at-euco-summit
President Christodoulides will participate in Friday’s informal summit of the European Council in Granada, Spain, which will focus on the future of the EU and the external dimension of migration....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/7-631-arrivals-vs-6-987-deportations-in-2023
From January to September 2023, 7,631 irregular migrants arrived in Cyprus, while in the same period, 6,987 were deported or returned voluntarily to their countries, according to information from the Ministry of the Interior....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-nations-reach-agreement-on-handling-irregular-immigration
European Union countries on Wednesday sealed a deal on how to handle irregular immigration at times of exceptionally high arrivals, taking a step towards overhauling the bloc’s asylum and migration rules before a pan-European election next year....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/25-new-asylum-examiners-to-speed-processing-and-deter-migrant-arrivals
The Asylum Service of Cyprus has taken a significant step to enhance the efficiency of processing asylum applications by appointing 25 additional asylum examiners, according to Minister of Interior Constantinos Ioannou....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/sweden-s-military-called-to-combat-daily-shootings-and-bombings
Sweden’s prime minister on Thursday said that he’s summoned the head of the military to discuss how the armed forces can help police deal with an unprecedented crime wave that has shocked the country with almost daily shootings and bombings....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/italy-to-immediately-deport-immigrants-for-false-age-claims
Foreigners who lie about their age to benefit from a protection scheme reserved for unaccompanied minors arriving in Italy will be deported under a security decree expected to be approved by Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet on Wednesday as part of her far-right government’s crackdown on irregular immigration....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-aids-lebanon-to-tackle-migration-flows
Cyprus has taken robust measures to address the escalating migration flows from the east, particularly from Lebanon, in close collaboration with its neighbor....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/minister-demands-urgent-action-on-migrant-smuggling
Migrant smuggling is a global concern that demands our immediate attention, Minister of Justice and Public Order Anna Koukkides Procopiou said on Tuesday, adding that a country deeply affected by this phenomenon, is Cyprus....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/italy-s-cry-for-help-facing-a-migrant-surge-amid-eu-discord
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has appealed for greater European support as her country confronts a surge of people fleeing north Africa, amid growing tensions between Rome and other EU capitals over migration policy....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/second-fence-erected-at-pournara-migrant-reception-center
The Interior Ministry has announced the installation of a second reinforcing fence around the perimeter of the ''Pournara'' reception center in Kokkinotrimithia, Nicosia district. ...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-police-arrest-4-in-immigration-smuggling-bust
The Cyprus Police have carried out a new operation to dismantle one more immigrant smuggling network and have arrested four people....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/debate-rages-over-cyprus-efforts-to-deter-migration-through-benefit-cuts
A discussion about the benefits for asylum seekers has arisen recently due to violent and racist incidents in Chloraka and Limassol last week....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/chlorakas-council-concerned-over-young-jihadists-infiltrating-paphos
In a recent letter addressed to the chairman and members of the House Standing Committee on Internal Affairs, the Chlorakas Community Council voiced concerns about the alleged influx of young jihadists in the Pafos area....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/in-a-historic-first-asylum-applications-drop-by-51
Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou announced today that, for the first time in Cyprus' immigrant history, there has been a shift in the balance between migrant arrivals and departures....