Immigration detention in Greece in 2023
Refugees arbitrarily deprived of their liberty despite unfeasible deportations
Returns & deportations
29,869 Hellenic Police decisions: 19,188 return decisions (Return Directive) and 10,681
deportation decisions (derogation from the Directive). Nationalities include Syria (2,785),
Iraq (2,679), Afghanistan (2,013), Somalia (1,826) and Palestine (1,562)
6,340
returns of third-country nationals, namely of Albania (2,488) and Georgia (2,309), not
represented in arrivals via Evros, Central and Eastern Mediterranean
Review of return & deportation orders
367
decisions challenged through an administrative appeal to the Hellenic Police (1.2%)
6%
approval rate in appeals before the Hellenic Police
Immigration detention
24,174 detention orders: 10,245 in return procedures (Return Directive), 10,295 in deportation
procedures (derogation from the Directive) and 3,634 in the asylum process (Reception
Conditions Directive)
96.4%
detention rate in deportation procedures
53.2%
detention rate in return procedures
Judicial review of detention
5,001
orders challenged through objections in administrative courts (20.7%)
45.6%
approval rate in objections before administrative courts
0.5%
rate of detention orders quashed in ex officio review by the same courts based on the
same provisions
Detention conditions
2,303
people detained in pre-removal centres at the end of 2023, mainly Amygdaleza (799)
and Corinth (654). Main countries include Pakistan (836) and Egypt (544)
261
people detained in police stations at the end of 2023
49
total staff in pre-removal centres, including interpreters and administrative staff. 1 doctor
for 654 detainees in Corinth and for 399 in Amygdaleza. No doctor in Paranesti
RSA POLICY NOTE │ IMMIGRATION DETENTION | MAY 2024
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