This Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) note analyses the latest statistics on return, deportation and immigration detention in Greece for 2025, provided by the Greek authorities in reply to parliamentary questions. 1 For yet another year, the figures reveal a constant, arbitrary practice of imposing deprivation of liberty and deportation, even to countries where removal is neither permitted nor feasible. The data also demonstrate chronic dysfunctions in the review of legality of deportation and detention orders. Registered arrivals in Greece The Greek authorities registered a total of 48,298 people arriving in the country undocumented in 2025. Of those, 19,799 arrived on Crete and Gavdos via the Central Mediterranean, while another 28,499 arrived via Evros and the Eastern Mediterranean. Screening is mandatory before such arrivals are channelled into asylum or return procedures.2 The Reception and Identification Service (RIS) screened a total of 50,840 people in 2025. Almost all people entering screening procedures seek asylum. 3 The main countries of origin of people screened by RIS were Afghanistan (13,471), Sudan (8,641) and Egypt (7,837). Return procedures The Hellenic Police issued a total of 26,527 decisions ordering removal from the Greek territory in 2025. Of those, 11,877 were return decisions based on L 5226/2025 transposing the Return Directive,4 and 14,650 were deportation orders pursuant to L 3386/2005,5 in derogation from Return Directive standards. Therefore, the majority of removal orders in Greece continue to be issued in derogation from the Return Directive. As confirmed every year by official figures, the Hellenic Police systematically circumvents EU law through a blanket practice of deportation orders against newly arrived people who seek asylum and thereby have a right to remain on the territory. By way of illustration, the main countries of origin of people facing deportation proceedings in derogation from the Return Directive were by far Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia and Sudan. The majority of nationals of these countries are granted refugee status in Greece. 1 2 3 4 5 Hellenic Parliament, Στοιχεία διοικητικής κράτησης και απελάσεων μεταναστών και αιτούντων άσυλο 2025, available here. Article 38(1) Greek Asylum Code, L 4939/2022, Gov. Gazette Α΄ 111/10.06.2022. Hellenic Police Headquarters, Reply to parliamentary question, 7017/4/27283-στ΄, 1 April 2025, available εere; 7017/4/26888-γ΄, 13 August 2024, available here. Gov. Gazette Α΄ 154/08.09.2025. Gov. Gazette Α΄ 212/23.08.2005. RSA POLICY NOTE │ IMMIGRATION DETENTION | MAR 2026 2