The Maze of Immigration Detention in Greece: A Case Study of the Athens Airport Detention Facility

Prison Service Journal, No 205. Special Issue on Migration, Nationality and Detention, 2013.

Criminal Justice, Borders and Citizenship Research Paper No. 2515323

11 Pages Posted: 29 Oct 2014

See all articles by Andriani Fili

Andriani Fili

University of Oxford; Monash University - Faculty of Law; University of Oxford - Border Criminologies

Date Written: 2013

Abstract

The paper will begin by giving an overview of the growing problem of irregular migration in Greece. Greece’s geographical location makes it an entry point into the EU for large flows of migrants from the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Today, there are estimated to be around 500.000 irregular migrants in the country. However, with worsening conditions in the country due to the crisis (and with contacts in other more stable EU countries) many irregular migrants also now want to leave Greece. While most discussions of the subject concentrate on the inflow of migrants across the Evros river and land border with Turkey, this paper will discuss both the in and outflow of irregular migrants at Athens airport. Based on 6 months of fieldwork and interviews with hundreds of irregular migrants the paper will look at the problems migrants are facing in Greece and the strategies and technologies employed to evade the efforts of law enforcement at the border, including the use of human smuggling networks.

Keywords: Irregular migrants, Greece, detention, outflow migration

Suggested Citation

Fili, Andriani, The Maze of Immigration Detention in Greece: A Case Study of the Athens Airport Detention Facility (2013). Prison Service Journal, No 205. Special Issue on Migration, Nationality and Detention, 2013. , Criminal Justice, Borders and Citizenship Research Paper No. 2515323, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2515323

Andriani Fili (Contact Author)

University of Oxford ( email )

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

Monash University - Faculty of Law ( email )

Wellington Road
Clayton, Victoria 3800
Australia

University of Oxford - Border Criminologies ( email )

Manor Road Building
Manor Rd
Oxford, OX1 3UQ
United Kingdom

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