New Limnes migrant detention center opens in Cyprus

A new migrant detention facility, the Limnes Pre-Removal Centre, located near Menoyia, has begun operations in Cyprus.

The complex was partially opened on April 9, 2026, and will become the largest facility of its kind on the island. It will gradually replace the old Menoyia Detention Centre, which has a capacity of 128 places. Once fully operational, Limnes will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 people awaiting deportation or decisions on asylum appeals.

According to the Cyprus Ministry of Justice, the facility was built with EU support and meets modern European standards. The center features air-conditioned living quarters, a digital surveillance system, a medical unit, and areas for legal aid.

Authorities believe the new center will free up police cells currently used for detaining migrants and reduce the costs of transporting detainees between institutions.

However, human rights organizations are viewing the project with caution. The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) notes that increasing center capacity could lead to longer periods of detention. They are calling on authorities to speed up the processing of asylum applications and to more frequently apply alternative measures instead of detention for families and vulnerable groups.

The Limnes center is expected to be fully operational by July, after which the old center in Menoyia is planned to be used as a transit point for deportations via Larnaca Airport.