Government does not confirm that undocumented immigrants entering Greece will not be arrested. They say that it is false information leaked by the opposition party.
Earlier today some government decisions concerning undocumented immigrants were released. All immigrants being kept in detention centers for more than 6 months will gradually be released. Then, they will be given a paper postponing deportation for a 6-months period.
In this period they should leave Greece by themselves. Undocumented immigrants crossing greek borders will no more be arrested, but (as in the past) they will be given a paper saying that they have one month to leave Greece. If they get arrested after this one-month period, they will also be given a paper postponing deportation for 6 more months. Then they will enter an uncertain status, as the immigrants‘ situation in Greece had (has) been for many years. Most of the detention centers will not close – perhaps not even Amygdaleza.
So we almost return to the situation as it was 3 years ago. Not exactly. Back then maximum detention was three months, not six, there were seven detention centers less, the nazi party percentage was 0,15%, not 7% and the immigrant population was much bigger – actually during last three years the total population of Greece has decreased, for the first time since the formation of the greek state.
And the police keeps chasing immigrants street vendors.
So we are far away from the recent far-right governance of Greece (especially the anti-immigrant peak of summer 2012 to autumn of 2013), but we are also far away from February 2011, when Syriza MPs were supporting the 300 immigrants‘ hunger strike for immigrants‘ legalization. No time to rest for the movement.