Cyprus has stripped asylum or residence status from 95 individuals—80 of them Syrian nationals—who were found to have engaged in criminal activity, Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides told reporters on 14 July. The unprecedented measure is part of a broader government strategy to deter abuse of the asylum system and speed up returns of people with no legal right to remain. Those affected will be placed in pre-removal detention pending deportation orders. Separately, residency permits for a group of Indian nationals involved in May’s Limassol riots have been rescinded. Ioannides said the crackdown sends a clear message that “international protection is not a shield for lawlessness”. The ministry simultaneously expanded its EU-funded Assisted Voluntary Repatriation Scheme for Syrian families. Under the revised programme, one adult may stay in Cyprus on a two-year work permit while spouses and children receive cash incentives of up to €2,000 each to return to Syria. Officials disclosed that some 5,000 Syrians have already gone home since the December 2024 political transition in Damascus. For employers, the policy shift could tighten the local labour pool in hospitality and agriculture, sectors that rely on Syrian permit-holders. Legal advisors urge companies to verify staff documentation promptly to avoid penalties. Human-rights organisations criticised the decision, warning of possible violations of non-refoulement principles if deportations to unstable regions proceed without individual risk assessments. The ministry insists each case will be reviewed against fresh EU Country-of-Origin Information on post-war Syria.
Source: Cyprus Mail
