Migrants in Greece whose asylum claims are rejected will soon be required to wear ankle monitors as part of new government measures aimed at speeding up deportations. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced the plan on Monday, saying it is expected to be in place before the end of the year. The proposal is part of wider reforms that would also criminalize ignoring deportation orders.
Speaking to state-run ERT radio, Plevris said the use of electronic tracking would send a clear signal that “the options have narrowed” for those ordered to leave. The stricter rules, which include mandatory prison sentences for failing to comply, will be presented to parliament next month after being delayed over the summer due to a rise in migrant arrivals from Libya to Crete.
Under the proposal, migrants will be fitted with the devices during a 30-day compliance period after their asylum claims and appeals have been exhausted. The government is also considering offering a €2,000 ($2,300) incentive to those who leave voluntarily.
Greece’s conservative government has been criticized for its hard-line migration stance, which includes a recent ban on asylum claims from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. The Council of Europe and several human rights groups have raised concerns about the legality and human rights implications of such policies.