Greece toughens stance on illegal migration with new deportation plan
Eleven years into a migration crisis, Greece is trying to stop boats crossing from North Africa to the Greek island of Crete. Five European Union countries have made a breakthrough in their efforts to deport migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Uganda in East Africa has agreed to accept them, although the deal has yet to be signed. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from Athens.
Eleven years into the ongoing migration crisis, Greece is taking a tougher stance on illegal migration through a new deportation plan. European Union countries have reached an agreement to deport migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Uganda, although the deal has not yet been signed. Greek authorities aim to stop boats from North Africa to Crete by using strong language and videos of migrants' dangerous journeys.
Greek former migration minister Dimitris Kairidis views the videos as propaganda, promoting illegal migration and disuniting Europe. Meanwhile, a South Sudanese refugee, Sam Mochar, describes the perilous journey and his decision to leave in search of safety. The E.U. seeks social media companies to remove misleading videos encouraging illegal migration.
Despite these efforts, the boats continue to arrive, albeit in decreasing numbers. Greece plans to send illegal migrants to Uganda, where asylum claims can be processed. Some refugees, like Sam Mochar, describe the long and dangerous journey, while others, like Spyros Oikonomou, accuse Greece of copying America's policies and disregarding fundamental rights and the rule of law.
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