Two students about to be deported for living illegally in north Cyprus to be released due to their active status in school

Two individuals arrested on charges of residing illegally in northern Cyprus and about to be deported will no longer be deported because they were actively registered in school. 

The individuals identified only as JEA and EC were brought before the court again on Wednesday December 31, where it was revealed that they had not been deported due to ongoing administrative circumstances related to their education status.

Testifying before the court, the police stated that on 20 December 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., JEA and EC voluntarily presented themselves at the Gönyeli Police Station. Immigration checks conducted on their passports revealed that they had been residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus without legal permission for a total of 22 days, starting from 29 November 2025.

Police said the suspects were arrested at the scene and an investigation was launched. They were first brought before the court on 21 December, where police were granted an additional three days for investigative purposes. During this period, the necessary correspondence was initiated to proceed with deportation. The suspects were brought before the court a second time on 24 December, at which point police were granted a further seven days.

The police informed the court that within this seven-day period, a response was received regarding the deportation request. However, the request to deport the suspects was not approved. She added that the investigation into the aspects of the case that the suspects could influence had been completed, and requested that they be remanded to prison for a period not exceeding 15 days.

After evaluating the testimony, the judge ordered that both suspects be held in prison for 15 days.

Meanwhile, it emerged that although the suspects had failed to complete immigration formalities, they had been regularly enrolled at the educational institution they had attended for the past four years and had undergone blood tests as part of the residence permit application process. Due to these circumstances, deportation was not carried out. Authorities indicated that the suspects would be released once they complete the required immigration procedures.