Most irregular immigrants don't come in large migration waves, but they cross the border in small groups in different locations (either on foot or by boat through Turkey). There are two main routes into Greece from Turkey, one across the Turkish-Greek land border in the northeast of the country, in the Evros region. The other route lies via the Mediterranean, refugees and undocumented migrants attempt to reach the islands in the North-East Aegean sea situated only a few kilometers away from the Turkish mainland. Particularly those of Chios, Samos and Lesvos are important points of entry to the EU through the sea.
While many of those arriving on Greece's shores are economic migrants, a significant number are people in need of international protection after fleeing conflict or persecution in their home countries. Very few apply for asylum at their point of arrival. They don't apply here for many reasons. They either want to go to Athens or to other EU countries. Many wish to avoid the Greek asylum system because, if later picked up elsewhere in the EU, they could be sent back to Greece for their asylum application to be processed.
All those stopped on the borders are detained and given a deportation order (regardless of whether or not they are in need of protection), but this is rarely enforced. Those who apply for asylum on entry points, such as Evros, Lesvos, Samos etc., spend longer in detention, but everyone is eventually moved to Athens, where 95 percent of asylum applications are lodged.
While many of those arriving on Greece's shores are economic migrants, a significant number are people in need of international protection after fleeing conflict or persecution in their home countries. Very few apply for asylum at their point of arrival. They don't apply here for many reasons. They either want to go to Athens or to other EU countries. Many wish to avoid the Greek asylum system because, if later picked up elsewhere in the EU, they could be sent back to Greece for their asylum application to be processed.
All those stopped on the borders are detained and given a deportation order (regardless of whether or not they are in need of protection), but this is rarely enforced. Those who apply for asylum on entry points, such as Evros, Lesvos, Samos etc., spend longer in detention, but everyone is eventually moved to Athens, where 95 percent of asylum applications are lodged.
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