Cyprus begins deporting Syrians considered a threat to public order and national security. The initiative, led by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and the Cyprus Police, targets Syrian nationals deemed to pose a danger to state security.
Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, the Deputy Ministry’s services—specifically the Immigration Department and the Asylum Service—have been working methodically with police and other competent authorities for months on similar cases. These efforts aim to maintain national stability while adhering to legal and procedural standards.
Sources also revealed that the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, alongside the Minister of Justice and in coordination with the President of the Republic, is engaging with European partners on this matter. During the recent Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council in Copenhagen, the Cypriot Deputy Minister held bilateral discussions with Austria’s Interior Minister to exchange information. Austria was the first country in the EU to deport Syrians assessed as a threat to public order and safety.
It is worth noting that in April 2024, Cyprus became the first EU country to suspend the examination of asylum applications from Syrian nationals—a measure that has since been adopted by several other EU member states.
Cyprus also leads the EU in voluntary returns of Syrian nationals. More than 3,000 individuals have already departed from the island to Syria under the programme.
Featured image source: InfoMigrants
Also read: How Limassol’s wildfires revealed Cyprus’s readiness gap
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