Cyprus is starting a big plan to send foreign people back to their countries. This is to help with too many people in prisons. It also deals with people who are in the country without permission. The Justice Ministry and another government department are leading this effort. Many foreign prisoners have already left detention centres. At the same time, the country is looking for migrants without papers.
This plan became stronger after the president spoke in December. It aims to reduce the pressure on Cyprus's prisons. From December 10th to January 20th, 164 foreign people were sent home from prisons. In total, 643 foreign people left Cyprus in 45 days. About 450 of them left through programmes for returning home. Another 29 people left by themselves because they had no permission to stay.
Prisons in Cyprus are very crowded. International groups have worried about this for a long time. Foreigners make up more than half of the people in prison. Sending them away will help the prisons.
The government is also thinking about letting some foreign prisoners go early. This is for people convicted of small crimes. They must agree to leave Cyprus. This could help about 100 prisoners. It is part of a larger plan for up to 175 people. This plan tries to be fair and manage the number of people in prison and the number of migrants.
Operations are happening across the country to find migrants without papers. The government is also making it easier for people to return home voluntarily. This is an alternative to being forced to leave. The Justice Ministry is working to make these removals happen faster. The prisons are already less crowded because of this work.