Greece has detained nearly 300 migrants under a new law that makes illegal entry, exit, and residence a criminal offence. The law, in effect from September to December 2025, has led to a sharp increase in prosecutions, with prosecutors in Hania and Iraklio filing around 200 cases. By the end of the year, more than 800 cases had been filed across the country.
Those convicted under the law face up to two years in prison without the possibility of suspension unless they agree to voluntary return. Migrants who do not accept voluntary return remain in pre-removal detention centers while awaiting deportation.
The detainees include people from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, even though asylum acceptance rates for these nationalities are high. According to official statistics, 99.8% of Afghan applicants, 90.7% of Syrians, and 62.3% of Iraqis who applied for asylum were accepted. Critics have warned that the law could put people with legitimate protection needs at risk of detention despite their high chances of being granted asylum.
Greece’s government argues that the law is necessary to control irregular migration and enforce border security, while human rights groups continue to call for more safeguards for asylum seekers under the new system.