Figure 3: Pre-removal detention centres in Greece Since 2019, the Greek government has been working on its operational plan to address migration and ‘decongest’ the Aegean islands, following a post-election commitment. This strategy culminated in the announcement that the existing ‘hotspot’ camps on the Greek islands would be gradually turned into “closed” centres in order to reduce the flows of people (L. 4636/2019). The plan, backed by €276 million of funding from the European Union, is to create two zones of fencing inside every camp, six metres apart, and to introduce biometric cards to control entry and exit, CCTV monitoring, airport-like bag screening and a secure detention facility (Monroy, 2021). The first such facilities on the islands of Samos, Leros and Kos are already operational. The situation unfolding in the closed controlled centre of Samos has exceeded even the bleakest scenario. Just three months after its inauguration, it has been described as a high-tech modern prison and a panopticon for refugees (Greek Council for Refugees, 2021; Molnar, 2021; Monroy, 2021; Tazzioli, 2021). What is more, there is already a legal precedent that proves the use of illegal de facto detention in the centre (Amnesty International, 2021). 18