Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, Nikolas Ioannides, instructed immigration authorities on 15 September 2026 to revoke the residence permits of – and initiate deportation proceedings against – a group of Pakistani and Indian nationals allegedly involved in a violent brawl in Limassol two days earlier. The incident, captured on mobile-phone video, showed men wielding sticks and a meat cleaver near Agios Ioannis church, prompting public alarm and a large police response. A ministry source told SigmaLive that the expulsions are being carried out under a policy of “zero tolerance for serious delinquency by foreign nationals”. Ioannides also used the announcement to warn Cypriot employers and landlords that facilitating illegal workers exposes them to heavy fines – an enforcement angle likely to affect companies that hire seasonal staff in construction, agriculture and hospitality. For HR managers, the case is a reminder that behaviour outside the workplace can jeopardise employees’ immigration status. Companies sponsoring third-country nationals are advised to review codes of conduct and ensure workers understand local laws, as arrest or prosecution can trigger immediate cancellation of work permits under the Aliens and Immigration Law. The ministry is expected to fast-track the deportations by using summary administrative orders rather than protracted court proceedings, a practice that has drawn criticism from human-rights NGOs but is politically popular amid rising concern over irregular migration. More than 6,400 people have been removed so far this year, according to police statistics released last week. Employers should monitor forthcoming guidance: officials hinted that additional compliance inspections of worksites and housing for foreign workers would be stepped up in the coming weeks, particularly in Limassol and Paphos districts.
Source: SigmaLive
