FINALLY some good news. Up until recently, Greek authorities were only permitted to detain immigrants who entered our country illegally for no more than six months. If during this period, they presented some sort of documentation, they were allowed to leave the detention centers and roam freely across Greece (for a certain time period). Unfortunately, and for reasons which are obvious, many reports claim that most of the illegal immigrants would tear up their formal documents, so that Greek authorities could not register their information properly in fear of being caught and deported.
Well, this is about to change. A new Presidential Decree, which was considered legitimate by the State Council, is expected to deter the entry of illegal immigrants to Greece, because now if they do not have the necessary supporting documents they will automatically be detained in various detention centers across the country for one whole year!
The The Presidential concerns "uniform procedures for identification to aliens and stateless refugee status or subsidiary protection in compliance with Directive 2005/85/EC on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status. "
The one year gives authorities plenty of time to prepare the necessary paperwork to either deport these people back to their countries of origin, or to grant them asylum.
Article in Greek on protothema