Migrants in Greece whose asylum claims are rejected will soon be required to wear ankle monitors as part of a government plan to speed up deportations. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced Monday that the measure will be implemented before the end of the year, along with reforms that would criminalize noncompliance with deportation orders. The proposal also includes mandatory jail terms for those who defy removal orders.
Plevris told Greece’s state-run ERT radio that electronic monitoring will make it clear that “the options have narrowed” for migrants after exhausting appeals. The system would apply during a 30-day compliance window, after which authorities will enforce deportation. The government is also considering offering a voluntary return bonus of €2,000 ($2,300) for migrants who agree to leave on their own.
The stricter measures will be submitted to parliament next month, following a delay caused by a spike in migrant arrivals from Libya to the island of Crete over the summer. Greece’s conservative administration has already taken a tougher stance on illegal migration, including banning asylum claims for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa.
While the government says these measures are necessary to uphold border security and ensure swift deportations, they have faced pushback from the Council of Europe and human rights organizations. Critics argue that ankle monitoring and criminal penalties could violate individual rights and humanitarian obligations.
Plevris defended the reforms as both legal and necessary, pointing to the growing pressure on Greek border authorities. The measures come as part of a broader European trend toward stricter enforcement against illegal migration, with multiple EU nations expanding detention powers and electronic surveillance to expedite removals.
