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. According to the data, returns or deportations of irregular migrants have reached 92% of arrivals. In the corresponding period of 2022, arrivals were almost double, standing at 13,599, while returns were 5,042, with the corresponding ratio standing at 37%. The Minister of the Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, stated that “for the first time there is a positive balance on arrivals and returns”.
Source: Cyprus News Agency