New law in Greece: 300 migrants detained for illegal entry in just four months

Following the introduction of a new Greek law that reinstates criminal liability for illegal entry and stay, around 300 migrants were detained between September and December 2025. The law provides for a prison sentence of up to two years with no possibility of parole.

According to data from Greece's Ministry of Justice, more than 800 criminal cases were filed across the country by the end of 2025. In the districts of Chania and Heraklion alone, 200 cases related to illegal entry were processed.

Of the total number of detained individuals, 154 convicted persons are serving their sentences after refusing voluntary return to their country of origin, while 131 remain in administrative detention awaiting deportation. Egyptian nationals make up about 35 percent of the migrants, but their government is reportedly refusing to take them back.

Among those detained are also individuals from countries with high asylum approval rates: 99.8 percent for Afghanistan, 90.7 percent for Syria and 62.3 percent for Iraq. Continued arrivals, particularly on Crete and Gavdos, indicate that the number of detained persons will continue to grow.