Kyle Mifsud has resigned from his position as the Detention Services Agency CEO, and is set to become the new Deputy CEO at Mater Dei Hospital, sources have told The Malta Independent.

Contacted by this newsroom, Mifsud confirmed that he was stepping away from the DSA to take on a role at Mater Dei Hospital.

He said that as a health professional, a move back into the health sector represents a "natural progression" in his career "following five rewarding years serving as Head and Chief Executive Officer of the Detention Services Agency."

Mifsud said he is looking forward to returning to the health sector and contributing to the important work being carried out at Mater Dei Hospital.

"I am eager to once again address the challenges facing healthcare, just as I did before 2021, and to continue serving the people of Malta with the same commitment, dedication, and sense of public service that has guided me throughout my career," he said.

Mifsud did not say what role he would be taking up, but sources told this newspaper that he was set to be appointed as Deputy CEO at the hospital, backing Ing. Keith Attard, who has been serving as CEO of Mater Dei Hospital since May 2024.

Mifsud's career shift comes just weeks after Glenn Bedingfield became the new Minister for Home Affairs. Bedingfield's predecessor, Byron Camilleri, had served in this role for the previous six years, up until the start of this legislature a few weeks ago. Mifsud insisted that his resignation from the DSA has nothing to do with this ministerial change. He also quashed all claims that this resignation may be linked with any issues with working under Minister Bedingfield.

Looking back at his time in charge of the DSA, Mifsud said he is "immensely proud" of all that was achieved in the last five years. For instance, he noted that "together, we implemented significant reforms and improvements that strengthened the Agency and contributed to a fair, humane, and effective migration system."

Listing some key milestones under his leadership, Mifsud mentioned the establishment of the Migrant Health Service and the introduction of several specialised healthcare services for migrants in detention/reception facilities - such as psychiatry, genitourinary (GU), and ophthalmic clinics - to ensure that detainees had access to a broader range of essential healthcare services.

He added that the DSA, under his tenure, also upgraded all living quarters and staff facilities, constructed two new dedicated accommodation blocks for females and alleged minors, established a dedicated Welfare Section, successfully digitalised detainee records, and concluded a new collective agreement that recognised and strengthened the conditions of all detention officers.

Furthermore, Mifsud noted how he helped the DSA to "significantly" increase its operational capacity, bolster its support to Immigration Police, and that it has played a key role in assisting the Malta Police Force in forced return operations.

He stated that through investments in mental health training for staff and initiatives to improve detainees' wellbeing while residing in any of Malta's detention centres, the detention environment transformed to the extent that "antisocial behaviour, vandalism, absconding incidents, and unnecessary hospital admissions were no longer defining features of the Agency's operations."

Mifsud said that none of these achievements would have been possible without the commitment displayed by the DSA's employees and strong collaboration with local and international partners.

Mifsud extended his gratitude to all DSA staff as well as the current and former Ministers for Home Affairs, Glenn Bedingfield and Byron Camilleri, "for their dedication, professionalism, and unwavering support."

"It has been a privilege to work alongside such committed individuals, and I wish the Agency and its staff every success in the future," he said.

In the last decade, the number of irregular immigrants entering the Maltese islands by sea have decreased to record-lows. In the final quarter of 2024, the occupancy rate of Malta's detention centres was recorded at just 7% and has hovered around the 10% mark since 2023. No occupancy data was provided for 2025 in the European Council on Refugees and Exiles' (ECRE) country report for Malta, published last month.

In March 2025, the former Minister for Home Affairs stated that over the previous half-decade, the number of irregular immigrants entering the Maltese islands had decreased by 93%. 3,406 irregular immigrants arrived in Malta by sea in 2019 alone; in 2025, just 246 persons reached Malta by sea.