Greece to Fit Deportation-Listed Migrants with Electronic Ankle Tags

Greece has moved to require migrants on deportation lists to wear electronic ankle tags for a 30 day compliance period before removal, a core part of a wider asylum and migration enforcement overhaul announced in mid August 2025. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said the electronic monitoring system will be running before the end of the year, with draft legislation to be tabled in parliament after the summer recess. Officials say the policy will speed deportations, ease pressure on crowded detention sites, and stop people with final rejections from leaving supervision.

Non compliance with a deportation order will become a crime under the draft. Authorities plan to treat tampering with or removing the ankle device as an offense that can bring mandatory jail terms of up to five years. The measure targets people whose asylum claims have been finally rejected and who are now waiting for removal from Greece. The monitoring period is set at 30 days before the scheduled flight or transfer.

How the monitoring will work

Under the plan, the government says it will shift some people out of closed detention and track them in the community with electronic ankle tags. The aim is to free space inside facilities while keeping people available for deportation.

The ministry has outlined a simple path:

1. Final rejection. A person receives a definitive rejection of their asylum application after all appeals are exhausted.
2. Notification. The person is placed on the deportation list and told to comply with the ankle device.
3. Fitting. Authorities fit the person with the ankle bracelet and record basic details and address.
4. Monitoring. Movement is tracked for the next 30 days. Any attempt to abscond, tamper, or remove the device triggers legal penalties.
5. Removal. After the monitoring period, the person is deported from Greece.
6. Voluntary return option. At any point, the person may choose to leave with help from a program that offers up to €2,000 as an incentive for voluntary departure.

Additional operational changes:

• The Coast Guard has stepped up patrols at sea.
• Boats intercepted near Crete are being transferred directly to closed facilities where the deportation process begins.
• New asylum claims are not opened for these cases, reflecting a suspension of asylum processing for people arriving by sea from North Africa since July 2025, according to officials.

Pressures behind the move

Greek authorities point to a sharp rise in arrivals on southern islands and shores. They report a 350 percent increase in irregular arrivals to Crete and Gavdos between 2024 and 2025, a trend linked to the closure of Italian routes from Libya.

• On 18 August 2025, more than 120 people were intercepted off Crete.
• Officials recorded more than 2,500 arrivals in a single week in July 2025.

Minister Plevris has argued that faster deportations and firm tracking are needed to protect public order and support local economies that depend on tourism, especially on Crete. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has framed the spike as a challenge beyond Greece and has called for stronger help and solidarity from the European Union.

Local leaders on Crete have pushed back against plans for permanent transit facilities. Some regional officials say long-term sites could harm local businesses and strain services. The central government says electronic monitoring can reduce the need for new detention blocks while keeping people available for removal.

The bill is expected to go to parliament after the summer break, with full implementation by the end of 2025. Plevris has said the electronic system will be operational before the year closes. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the ankle tag rule sits inside a broader package that includes tougher penalties for illegal entry and the ongoing suspension of some asylum processing.

What this means for people facing removal

For those with final rejections, the change is direct: they will be fitted with electronic ankle tags and monitored for a month.

• If they comply and present themselves for removal, the case progresses to deportation.
• If they remove or damage the device, they face possible prison time under the new criminal provisions.
• Lawyers advise that people should read any notices carefully and keep proof of compliance (appointment slips, text alerts, receipts).

Example scenario:

A man whose claim was finally rejected in Heraklion receives a written order placing him on the deportation list. Police schedule a fitting and attach the device. For the next 30 days, he must stay reachable, respond to calls, and appear when told. If he chooses voluntary return, he can request help and may receive the €2,000 incentive. If he cuts off the device and goes missing, he may face arrest and a court case that could bring a custodial sentence.

Human rights groups and some local officials have raised concerns about the criminalization of migration and the impact on personal rights. Those voices are less present in the latest official briefings, which focus on enforcement goals and capacity limits. The government stresses the policy is aimed at people who have no legal ground to remain after a final decision.

Greece also wants a stronger EU role. Mitsotakis has asked for a coordinated response that better supports frontline states and shares responsibility across the bloc. The outcome of those talks could shape funding, return agreements, and future limits on arrivals to Greek islands.

Where to find official information

For procedural information and updates, the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum provides official notices on its website at https://migration.gov.gr. People affected by the new rules can check for announcements on timelines, locations for device fittings, and contact points for voluntary return programs.

Implementation risks and outlook

The rollout could be bumpy. Disputes over where to place permanent facilities, especially on Crete, may slow the schedule. Even so, the ministry’s plan to use ankle tags signals a shift away from heavy use of detention.

• Government argument: tracking outside locked centers is less costly and keeps space open for cases that require strict custody.
• Policy focus: faster, tracked removals with fewer new detention blocks.

Key takeaway: The ankle-tag plan is intended to accelerate removals and relieve detention pressures, but it raises legal and human rights concerns and depends on EU cooperation and local acceptance for smooth implementation.