Borders and the mobility of migrants in Greece

CEASEVAL Working papers No.28

Entry at the external borders and transit through the Schengen space have changed significantly post 2015. Greece, is undertaking a stricter border control management, returning to an extent to practices of the period 2010-2012, with detention and slow asylum processing function as a deterrent measure for future arrivals. The mobility of migrants thus, has changed, and in contrast to the 2015-2016 period, Greece functions more as a place of strandedness, limbo and immobility for most. The research seeks to show how bordering processes are implemented when confronted with the mobility of migrants at different stages, with a particular focus due to Greece’s position at the external border, on interception on entry, and transit or secondary movement from Greece. The report documents the experiences and perceptions of border agents and actors involved in bordering processes, at the external border but also within Greece and of migrants arriving in Greece post 2015; their interaction with the border, their inclusion and/or exclusion in Greece legally and socially and whether and how this impacts their decision to continue their journey onwards or perhaps remain in Greece.

Keywords: hotspots, ESTIA, asylum, detention, pushbacks, Greece, Police, documents