Mobile migration point system to launch in Northern Cyprus as part of irregular migration crackdown

LEFKOŞA — A major tool in Turkey’s fight against irregular migration, the Mobile Migration Point system, is set to be implemented in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), marking a significant step in regional migration control efforts.

Designed to instantly verify the identities of undocumented foreign nationals through biometric data, the Mobile Migration Points will now operate across the island. Those found without a legal right to remain will be subject to deportation procedures.

The mobile units consist of specially equipped vehicles staffed by a migration expert and a translator. These units are connected to the "GöçNet" migration database, allowing real-time identity checks using fingerprint and biometric data. If an individual is found to lack legal residency status, deportation processes will be initiated and the person will be transferred to a return center.

As part of the system's rollout, Turkish Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya is scheduled to arrive in the TRNC tomorrow (May 29) around 11:00 AM. He will meet with TRNC Minister of Interior Dursun Oğuz at 1:15 PM, followed by the official inauguration of the Migration Management Center in Lefkoşa at 1:30 PM, where a formal handover ceremony for the Mobile Migration Point vehicles will also take place.

Originally launched as a pilot project in Istanbul on July 19, 2023, the Mobile Migration Point system rapidly expanded to 30 major cities across Turkey, operating with a fleet of 162 vehicles. Its expansion to Northern Cyprus represents a new chapter in regional migration enforcement.

Minister Yerlikaya had previously met with TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel in Ankara to announce plans for establishing a migration center and deploying the mobile units on the island. Tomorrow's visit is viewed as a critical milestone in realizing that bilateral cooperation.

The implementation of this system in the TRNC is expected to significantly enhance the island's capacity to manage irregular migration and uphold border security through technology-driven, rapid response operations.