Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

1.3 ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS
169
GREECE
Immigration laws define administrative procedures and provide for the issuance of Presidential
Decrees, Ministerial Decisions and procedural instructions issued by competent Ministries and
relevant authorities.
Institutions Responsible for Involuntary Return
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization has primary responsibility
for migration issues. Other competent authorities include the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Justice and Public Order. In addition, the police, the Courts, the General Secretary of the
Region and the Regional Immigration Committee established in every regional foreigners and
immigration directorate are all involved in facilitating involuntary returns.
According to Article 9 of Law No. 2910/2001, the Regional Immigration Committee is established
to opine on whether a foreigner should be granted a residence permit or have it renewed.
An Immigration Committee is established in every “Regional Foreigners and Immigration”
Directorate. Residence permits are issued, renewed and recalled by the General Secretary of the
Region on the basis of the opinion of the Committees. The issuance of residence permits no
longer falls within the competence of the police authorities.
The Immigration Committee is composed of three members, two employees of the “Regional
Foreigners and Immigration” Directorate (one being the head of the service) and one representative
of the police authority. The Secretary General of the Region appoints the members of the
Committee – both regular and alternate – and the secretary and his alternate through the issuance
of a resolution. The same process is followed to appoint as Chairman of the Committee the Head
of the “Foreigners and Immigration” Directorate, as well as a rapporteur, along with his/her
alternate, without voting right, from among the employees of the “Foreigners and Immigration”
Directorate.
Procedures to enforce expulsion are set by a Decision of the Minister of Home Affairs/Public
Administration and Decentralization, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice and
the Minister of Public Order. It is the competent police Director that orders the expulsion.
Operational Steps for Involuntary Return
Irregular migrants apprehended at entry points and those in police custody, are escorted by the
police when deported. There have been some cases of mass deportations effected following
police orders and with the use of police escorts. For this purpose, the state authorities charter
buses and bear the relevant costs.
As a rule, deportation expenses have to be borne by the foreigner. If the latter cannot provide
these, the state will cover them. If the foreigner in question entered the territory upon a letter of
guarantee by a third person, the latter will also be responsible for covering the expenses (50/50
with the foreigner). An employer engaging a foreigner without a work permit must bear his/her
deportation expenses. Carriers and travel agents are responsible for subsistence and removal
costs for foreigners they have transported to Greece.