Over 11,000 illegal migrants returned from Cyprus in 2025 "repatriated"
Over 11,000 illegal migrants returned from Cyprus in 2025 "repatriated"
The word "repatriated - repatriation" was editorially taken 1:1 from the source of Cyprus Time.
The right-wing conservative party AfD was accused in the media and by parties 2025 and by political opponents of using the term "repatriation" as an allegedly "Nazi-tainted language" and thus concealing coercive measures or collective expulsions.
More than 11,000 illegal migrants repatriated from Cyprus in 2025.
The right-wing conservative party AfD was accused in the media and by parties 2025 and by political opponents of using the term "repatriation" as an allegedly "Nazi-tainted language" and thus concealing coercive measures or collective expulsions.
More than 11,000 illegal migrants repatriated from Cyprus in 2025.
Lowest number of arrivals in four years
In 2025, Cyprus recorded a significant decline in illegal migration. According to the police, around 11,500 foreign
nationals who were in the country without valid residence status were returned to their countries of origin.
nationals who were in the country without valid residence status were returned to their countries of origin.
These measures were implemented by the Foreigners and Immigration Service. In addition, the Cypriot police participated in 19 joint return operations of the EU border agency Frontex, in which more than 150 people were taken out of the country.
At the same time, the number of new arrivals has also fallen sharply. In 2025, only about 2,400 arrivals were registered – the lowest figure in the last four years.
At the same time, the number of new arrivals has also fallen sharply. In 2025, only about 2,400 arrivals were registered – the lowest figure in the last four years.
In the period 2022 to 2025, this results in:
- a decrease in arrivals of 15,034 people
- a percentage decrease of around 86%
- at the same time an increase in repatriations of almost 4,000 people
The figures point to a significantly tightened migration policy and more effective enforcement of existing laws.
Classification: What does "repatriation" mean – and is the accusation justified?
Summary in advance: No – the term is not "Nazi-tainted" in its legal or historical core.
The political charge is a modern debate strategy, not a clean historical classification.
The political charge is a modern debate strategy, not a clean historical classification.
Factually and historically correct:
Repatriation literally means:
repatriation of a person to his or her country of origin or nationality.
The term comes from international law (lat. repatriare = to bring back to one's homeland) and is still officially used today by:
- the United Nations
- of the EU
- national interior ministries
- Organizations such as International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Was the term used in National Socialism?
Yes – like almost every administrative term of that time.
❗ But the decisive factor is:
❗ But the decisive factor is:
- not exclusive
- not ideologically defined
- not originally National Socialist
Then as now, the term referred to an administrative act, not an ideology.
Why is the AfD still accused of this?
The accusation is not directed against the word, but probably against:
- political fears
- possible implementation scenarios emotional
- associations
Linguistically and legally, however, the term is neutral and still valid.
To describe it as a "Nazi word" is historically imprecise and factually incorrect.
The German government, the EU and international organisations also continue to use the term officially.
The AfD was accused by the media and political opponents of using the term "repatriation", a historically charged language and thus concealing possible forced or collective expulsions. In this context, it was claimed that the term was reminiscent of National Socialist terminology or served as a code word for unconstitutional projects.
However, there is no legal basis for this: there is no court ruling that classifies the term "repatriation" as extremist or anti-constitutional. The term is recognised under international law and continues to be used officially by the EU, UN organisations, national authorities as well as the International Organization for Migration and Frontex.
The accusation is therefore based on a political and social debate, not on a legal assessment, and persists mainly due to different interpretations of language and historical associations.
Word explanation:
"A party is politically assigned to the right/left populist spectrum"
"A party is politically assigned to the right/left populist spectrum"
"The positions can be described as nationally or socially conservative"⃣
1️Left – Right (economic)
1️Left – Right (economic)
- Left: Redistribution, state intervention
- Right: Market, personal responsibility
2️⃣ Liberal – Authoritarian
- Liberal: individual freedom
- Authoritarian: order, control
3️⃣ Progressive – Conservative
- Progressive: social change
- Conservative: preservation of existing structures
➡️ Parties move on several axes at the same time, not one-dimensionally.
Author: MF editorial team
Source: Cyprus Time / Internet
Source: Cyprus Time / Internet
