Greece has passed a controversial new law imposing harsher penalties on rejected asylum seekers, as the government seeks to curb irregular migration and tighten its border control policies.
The legislation, approved in parliament on Wednesday, introduces detention of up to 24 months and fines of €10,000 for undocumented migrants whose asylum applications are rejected.
Migrants arriving from countries classified as safe by the European Union, and therefore not entitled to asylum, will be required to return home voluntarily or face the penalties.
Although migration flows into Greece have fallen since the peak of the 2015–2016 refugee crisis, when over one million people crossed into Europe through its borders, recent months have seen renewed pressure.
Authorities reported increased arrivals from Libya through Crete and Gavdos, prompting the government earlier this year to temporarily suspend asylum applications for North African migrants.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s conservative government has taken a hard stance on migration since 2019, expanding a border fence with Turkey and strengthening sea patrols in the Aegean.
The latest law is seen as another step in its broader migration control strategy.
Migration Minister Thanos Plevris defended the measure during parliamentary debate.
“Greeks have the right to protect their country, and that outweighs the right of someone whose asylum application has been rejected to stay illegally,” he said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) criticized the legislation, warning that it risks punishing individuals who may genuinely require international protection.
The agency urged Athens to focus instead on faster and fairer asylum procedures, which could help distinguish between genuine refugees and economic migrants more effectively.
Human rights groups also expressed alarm. For years, Greece has faced accusations of illegal pushbacks at its borders, particularly at sea.
Earlier in 2025, the EU border agency Frontex confirmed it was investigating 12 cases of possible rights violations by Greek authorities.
Despite international criticism, Greek officials insist the new law is necessary and lawful.
The government emphasized that hundreds of irregular migrants have already been repatriated since asylum applications were suspended in July.
Additional return flights are scheduled this month to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt, officials said.
Athens maintains that the legislation will not block legitimate refugees but will instead deter unlawful migration attempts.
Still, analysts warn that the stricter policy could deepen tensions with human rights organizations and spark fresh debates within the European Union over migration burden-sharing.
As migrant arrivals slowly rise again in the Mediterranean, Greece’s decision to impose tougher penalties highlights the growing divide between border security concerns and humanitarian obligations in Europe’s migration debate.