{"id":27326,"date":"2026-07-21T13:25:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?p=27326"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:25:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T10:25:26","slug":"eu-migration-pact-asylum-breakdown-arbitrary-detention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/eu-migration-pact-asylum-breakdown-arbitrary-detention\/","title":{"rendered":"A mother and her two children arrested upon seeking asylum, a couple arbitrarily detained for a month: Two stories from the first month of the implementation of the New Pact"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background-color:#101010;\" class=\"has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-6ff1607a931ce80bf04ef2f5003d1b66 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-background\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-20T09:01:24.535Z\">20 July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"color:#95b8a2;background-color:#101010\" class=\"taxonomy-category has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-25a620f056659b08e354c2b7f542c71c wp-block-post-terms has-text-color has-background\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/category\/publications\/press-releases\/\" rel=\"tag\">Press Releases<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/category\/publications\/\" rel=\"tag\">Publications<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/category\/topics\/quality-of-the-asylum-procedure\/\" rel=\"tag\">Quality of the asylum procedure<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/category\/topics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Topics<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n\/* ============================================================\n   RSA - New Pact, first month \u00b7 July 2026\n   TOKENS: swap these when the new brand ID lands.\n   Everything below derives from this block.\n   ============================================================ *\/\n#rsa-pact {\n  --rp-bg:        #101010;\n  --rp-bg-2:      #181818;\n  --rp-card:      #1e1e1e;\n  --rp-text:      #F1EEEE;\n  --rp-muted:     #CDC1C1;\n  --rp-faint:     #8f8a8a;\n  --rp-line:      #2C2C2C;\n\n  --rp-case-a:    #855C75; 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}\n\n\/* ---------- demands \/ closing ---------- *\/\n#rsa-pact .rp-close { padding: 8px 0 30px; }\n\n\/* ---------- footnote & footer ---------- *\/\n#rsa-pact .rp-footnote { font-family: var(--rp-mono) !important; font-size: 12.5px !important; color: var(--rp-faint) !important; border-top: 1px solid var(--rp-line); padding-top: 22px; margin-top: 54px; }\n#rsa-pact .rp-footer { text-align: center; padding: 44px 20px 70px; color: var(--rp-faint); font-size: 13px; background: #0b0b0b; margin-top: 60px; border-top: 1px solid var(--rp-line); font-family: var(--rp-mono) !important; }\n\n\/* ---------- reveal on scroll ---------- *\/\n#rsa-pact .rp-reveal { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(14px); transition: opacity .6s ease, transform .6s ease; }\n#rsa-pact .rp-reveal.rp-in { opacity: 1; transform: none; }\n@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {\n  #rsa-pact .rp-reveal { opacity: 1 !important; transform: none !important; transition: none !important; }\n}\n\n\/* ---------- responsive ---------- *\/\n@media (max-width: 640px) {\n  #rsa-pact { font-size: 16px; }\n  #rsa-pact .rp-hero { padding: 60px 0 38px; }\n  #rsa-pact .rp-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 30px; }\n  #rsa-pact .rp-step { min-height: 0; }\n  #rsa-pact .rp-quote blockquote { padding-left: 18px; }\n  #rsa-pact .rp-quote cite { padding-left: 22px; }\n}\n<\/style>\n<\/head>\n<body>\n<div id=\"rsa-pact\">\n\n  <!-- ================= HERO ================= -->\n  <header class=\"rp-hero\">\n    <div class=\"rp-wrap\">\n      <div class=\"rp-kicker\">\n        <span>Press Release \u00b7 July 2026<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n      <h1 class=\"rp-title\"><span class=\"rp-title-lead\">A mother and her two children arrested upon seeking asylum, a couple arbitrarily detained for a month:<\/span><span class=\"rp-title-sub\">Two stories from the first month of the implementation of the New Pact<\/span><\/h1>\n      <div class=\"rp-subtitle\">Collapse of asylum procedures, arbitrary detention and criminalisation<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/header>\n\n  <main class=\"rp-wrap\">\n\n    <!-- ================= LEAD (special text block) ================= -->\n    <div class=\"rp-special rp-reveal\">\n      <span class=\"rp-hl\">Criminalisation of seeking asylum:<\/span> The first month of implementation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/new-pact-on-migration-and-asylum-2024\/\">New Pact on Migration and Asylum<\/a> has been marked by arbitrary arrest, detention and criminalisation of refugees, collapse of procedures, and suspension of registration of asylum applications.\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>People arriving in the country as of 12 June (the start of implementation of the New Pact) and who fall under the new legal framework have remained <strong>unregistered and detained, while others have been arbitrarily arrested, criminally prosecuted and detained while seeking asylum<\/strong> (!). This is happening while the competent Services of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum have <strong>halted<\/strong> already problematic procedures for registering asylum applications.<\/p>\n\n    <p>The dire effects of this backsliding are reflected in <strong>two illustrative cases represented by RSA (Refugee Support Aegean)<\/strong> on the Aegean islands and the mainland:<\/p>\n\n    <!-- ================= CASE A: SARA* ================= -->\n    <div class=\"rp-sec rp-case-a-sec rp-reveal\">\n      <span class=\"rp-tag\">Case 1 \u00b7 Attica &#8211; Malakasa RIC<\/span>\n      <h2 class=\"rp-h2\">Sara*: a single mother, arrested after seeking asylum<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/malakasa-1.jpg\" alt=\"Malakasa RIC\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rp-photo rp-reveal\">\n\n    <p><strong>Sara* is a single mother of two young children (aged 6 and 8)<\/strong>. The family arrived in Attica and attempted to book an appointment via the designated <a href=\"https:\/\/asylum.migration.gov.gr\/international-protection-registration\/registration_appointment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online platform<\/a> for registration at the Malakasa Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) on 6 July 2026, with the aim of applying for asylum and reuniting with the children&#8217;s father in another European country. She was not given an appointment, as <strong>the platform has been out of operation<\/strong> since 12 June. The following day, they presented themselves at the Malakasa RIC and requested protection but <strong>the RIC refused them entry and called the Police<\/strong>. Despite being asylum applicants and in fact appearing before the competent authorities, Sara* and her children ended up getting <strong>arrested<\/strong>, in the presence of competent RIC staff, <strong>held in inhuman conditions in a police station<\/strong> &#8211; with the younger child being ill and transferred to the holding cell from the hospital. They were also <strong>brought to a prosecutor to stand trial for \u201cillegal stay\u201d<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/criminalisation-of-illegal-stay-in-greece-puts-almost-300-people-behind-bars\/\">a criminal offence punishable<\/a> by a non-suspensive imprisonment sentence of two years since September 2025. The family was subsequently <strong>placed in detention in the Amygdaleza Pre-Removal Detention Centre<\/strong> (PRDC) and a <strong>deportation order<\/strong> was issued against them, <strong>even though they had already applied for asylum and despite our repeated interventions before all authorities involved<\/strong>. In Sara*&#8217;s case, a complaint was lodged with the Reception and Identification Service (RIS) and the Greek Ombudsman, together with an appeal against the return decision. <strong>Two days after the appeal was lodged, the family was transferred by the Police to the Malakasa RIC.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/amygdaleza.jpg\" alt=\"Amygdaleza Pre-Removal Detention Centre\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rp-photo rp-reveal\">\n\n    <div class=\"rp-timeline rp-reveal\">\n      <div class=\"rp-tl-title\">Case timeline &#8211; Sara* and her two children<\/div>\n      <ol class=\"rp-tl rp-tl-a\">\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">6 July 2026<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Attempt to book a registration appointment at the Malakasa RIC via the platform &#8211; no appointment given.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li class=\"rp-key\"><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">The following day<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">They request protection at the Malakasa RIC; the RIC refuses them entry and calls the Police &#8211; arrest.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">Subsequently<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Held in inhuman conditions in a police station; brought to a prosecutor to stand trial for \u201cillegal stay\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">Subsequently<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Detention in the Amygdaleza PRDC &#8211; a deportation order is issued, even though they had already applied for asylum.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">RSA intervention<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Complaint lodged with the RIS and the Greek Ombudsman; appeal against the return decision.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li class=\"rp-key\"><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">Two days after the appeal<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">The family is transferred by the Police to the Malakasa RIC.<\/span><\/li>\n      <\/ol>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- ================= QUOTE ================= -->\n    <div class=\"rp-quote rp-reveal\">\n      <blockquote>\u201cThe explicit refusal by the Management of the Malakasa RIC to register an asylum seeker and her children, and the subsequent calling of the police authorities by the Malakasa RIC, which led to their arrest for the criminal offence of illegal stay and to the issuing of an administrative return decision and to their detention by the police authorities &#8211; under appalling conditions, no less &#8211; constitutes unlawful treatment that flagrantly violates Greek, EU and international law, puts people at risk and offends human dignity. This is not an isolated incident. The establishment of such practices, as well as the circumvention of indisputable human rights in the context of the implementation of the New Pact, are unlawful and are not tolerable in a democratic state.\u201d<\/blockquote>\n      <cite><strong>Marianna Tzeferakou<\/strong> &#8211; Lawyer, RSA<\/cite>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- ================= CASE B: LAURA* & JAMES* ================= -->\n    <div class=\"rp-sec rp-case-b-sec rp-reveal\">\n      <span class=\"rp-tag\">Case 2 \u00b7 Lesvos &#8211; CCAC<\/span>\n      <h2 class=\"rp-h2\">Laura* and James*: detained and unregistered for almost a month<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Lesvos.jpg\" alt=\"Lesvos\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rp-photo rp-reveal\">\n\n    <p><strong>Laura*<\/strong>, a woman in advanced pregnancy, arrived with her partner <strong>James*<\/strong> on <strong>Lesvos<\/strong> on 12 June 2026. They were transferred by the authorities to the Lesvos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) to undergo \u201cscreening\u201d and asylum procedures. <strong>They remained detained and unregistered there for almost a month, without any documents and without any information on their status.<\/strong> We received no reply to the relevant requests we submitted to the RIS regarding their situation, while the couple were unable to leave the camp. On 9 July 2026, we filed objections before the Mytilene Administrative Court to end their arbitrary detention. One day later, after the Administration had been informed of the objections and before the court issued its ruling, the couple were registered and issued with asylum seeker cards.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"rp-timeline rp-reveal\">\n      <div class=\"rp-tl-title\">Case timeline &#8211; Laura* &amp; James*<\/div>\n      <ol class=\"rp-tl rp-tl-b\">\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">12 June 2026<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Arrival on Lesvos &#8211; transfer to the Lesvos CCAC to undergo \u201cscreening\u201d and asylum procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li class=\"rp-key\"><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">Almost a month<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Detained and unregistered, without any documents and without any information on their status.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">RSA intervention<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Requests submitted to the RIS regarding their situation &#8211; no reply.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">9 July 2026<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Objections filed before the Mytilene Administrative Court to end their arbitrary detention.<\/span><\/li>\n        <li class=\"rp-key\"><span class=\"rp-tl-date\">One day later<\/span><span class=\"rp-tl-text\">Before the court issues its ruling, the couple are registered and issued with asylum seeker cards.<\/span><\/li>\n      <\/ol>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- ================= SIGNATURE: SAME PATTERN ================= -->\n    <div class=\"rp-pattern rp-reveal\">\n      <div class=\"rp-pattern-title\">Two cases, the same pattern<\/div>\n      <div class=\"rp-pattern-sub\">Attica and Lesvos, first month of implementation of the New Pact<\/div>\n      <div class=\"rp-grid\">\n        <div class=\"rp-col-a\">\n          <div class=\"rp-col-head\">Sara* &#8211; Attica<\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Asylum request<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Requests protection at the Malakasa RIC, before the competent authorities.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Registration refused<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Platform out of operation; the RIC refuses them entry.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Detention<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Arrest, criminal prosecution, detention in the Amygdaleza PRDC, deportation order.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">RSA legal action<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Complaint to the RIS &amp; the Greek Ombudsman, appeal against the return decision.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Outcome<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\"><strong>Two days after the appeal<\/strong>, transfer to the Malakasa RIC.<\/span><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"rp-col-b\">\n          <div class=\"rp-col-head\">Laura* &amp; James* &#8211; Lesvos<\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Asylum request<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Transfer to the Lesvos CCAC to undergo screening and asylum procedures.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Registration refused<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Almost a month unregistered, without documents or information.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Detention<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Detained in the CCAC, unable to leave the camp.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">RSA legal action<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\">Objections filed before the Mytilene Administrative Court.<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"rp-step\"><span class=\"rp-step-label\">Outcome<\/span><span class=\"rp-step-text\"><strong>One day later<\/strong>, registration and asylum seeker cards.<\/span><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- ================= CLOSING ================= -->\n    <div class=\"rp-sec rp-plain-sec rp-reveal\">\n      <h2 class=\"rp-h2\">Access to asylum, an end to detention, respect for rights<\/h2>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"rp-close\">\n      <p>The issues we raise here, drawing on the two cases above, have already been <a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-07_LAWG_%CE%95%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%AE_%CE%A0%CF%81%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%B2%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B7%CE%86%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%BF.pdf\">brought<\/a> to the attention of the Greek authorities and EU institutions since early July 2026, without any response. <strong>RSA has expressed its opposition to the <a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/new-pact-on-migration-and-asylum-2024\/\">New Pact<\/a> and its strong reservations regarding the Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/el\/efarmostikos-nomos-toy-neou-koinou-evropaikou-systimatos-asylou\/\">implementation law<\/a>, pointing out that it violates international conventions on fundamental human rights.<\/strong> We urge for safeguarding asylum guarantees, primarily access to asylum, and for an end to the detention of asylum seekers and compliance with the law and human rights. We call for respect for every person&#8217;s rights to life, liberty and dignity, without discrimination, as enshrined in international law and the Constitution. These are undermined by the New Pact and its implementation law in Greece.<\/p>\n\n      <div class=\"rp-footnote\">*Names have been changed to protect their safety and privacy.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/main>\n\n  <footer class=\"rp-footer\">\n    RSA &#8211; Refugee Support Aegean \u00b7 July 2026\n  <\/footer>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\n(function () {\n  var els = document.querySelectorAll('#rsa-pact .rp-reveal');\n  if (!('IntersectionObserver' in window) || window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches) {\n    els.forEach(function (el) { el.classList.add('rp-in'); });\n    return;\n  }\n  var io = new IntersectionObserver(function (entries) {\n    entries.forEach(function (e) {\n      if (e.isIntersecting) { e.target.classList.add('rp-in'); io.unobserve(e.target); }\n    });\n  }, { threshold: 0.12 });\n  els.forEach(function (el) { io.observe(el); });\n})();\n<\/script>\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#95b8a2;background-color:#101010\" class=\"taxonomy-post_tag has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-5e99bf12afe2576bebde695ce47c156d wp-block-post-terms has-text-color has-background\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/tag\/2026\/\" rel=\"tag\">2026<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/tag\/featured\/\" rel=\"tag\">featured<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class='root-data-givewp-embed' data-form-locale='en_US' data-form-url='https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?post_type=give_forms&amp;p=24601' data-form-view-url='https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/?givewp-route=donation-form-view&amp;form-id=24601' data-src='https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/?givewp-route=donation-form-view&amp;form-id=24601' data-givewp-embed-id='give-form-shortcode-1' data-form-format='onpage' data-open-form-button='Donate now' style='--givewp-primary-color: #465070; --givewp-secondary-color: #af6458;'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Press Release \u00b7 July 2026 A mother and her two children arrested upon seeking asylum, a couple arbitrarily detained for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":27360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5,274,137],"tags":[348,18],"class_list":{"0":"post-27326","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-press-releases","8":"category-publications","9":"category-quality-of-the-asylum-procedure","10":"category-topics","11":"tag-348","12":"tag-featured"},"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27326"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27362,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27326\/revisions\/27362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}