Migrants in Greece whose asylum claims are rejected will be required to wear ankle bracelets as part of planned new measures to speed up deportations, the Associated Press reported, citing a Greek government source.
Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said the measure would be introduced before the end of the year as part of reforms aimed at criminalizing failure to comply with deportation orders. Plevris said the tougher provisions, which include mandatory prison sentences for failing to comply with deportation orders, will be introduced in the Greek parliament next month due to a surge in the number of migrants arriving from Libya on the island of Crete.
Plevris also said that "electronic monitoring" would be applied during the 30-day period given to migrants after their asylum applications are rejected and their appeals are unsuccessful, adding that the government was also considering a 2,000-euro deportation bonus for migrants who agree to be deported voluntarily.
The hardline migration policies introduced by the conservative Greek government, including a ban on asylum applications for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, have drawn criticism from the Council of Europe and various human rights groups, the Associated Press notes.