By Sheila Cross | Team Leader and Member of the governing Committee
A simple observation: Sometimes we wonder how long we can keep going. Yet every time someone calls our helpline, or when we learn a client has walked out of detention with their dignity intact, we’re reminded why we must. And we celebrate their progress.
Overview
Over the past few months, ASsIST has continued to provide vital legal aid and accurate information to people seeking asylum in Greece—often their only lifeline in a hostile and ever-changing system. From overcrowded camps to confusing procedures, from the threat of detention to rejected claims based on politics rather than protection needs, our clients face daily uncertainty and danger. Despite limited resources, our team has supported many people to assert their rights, understand complex legal processes, access essential services and avoid unfair deportation or devastating destitution.
What’s New:
We are proud to report the following achievements
Our volunteers and interpreters—many of whom are themselves refugees—continue to play a vital role in delivering culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, respectful support.
Asylum seekers are often expected to navigate extremely difficult and stressful conditions in Greece, where their futures may be determined by a single interview lasting just a few hours — an interview for which many are unprepared.
The Case Study provided in attachment to this Report demonstrates that access to legal assistance is particularly vital for vulnerable individuals. Numerous cases show that asylum seekers without appropriate legal representation frequently have their claims rejected, while those who later secure legal support often achieve significantly different outcomes have their claims accepted.
Key Developments: A Shrinking Space for Protection
Since our last report (Rights Undermined), the situation has worsened. We now operate in a context where even the minimal rights guaranteed under EU law are increasingly restricted.
Detention and Deportation: Greek authorities have expanded detention powers, allowing up to 24 months of administrative detention, and are increasing deportations to countries deemed "safe"—even when they are not. Egyptians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis are especially affected, often detained before they can register asylum claims. Claims should never be assessed on nationality; each individual’s case must be assessed.
Access Barriers: Asylum applicants must now navigate an online-only appointment system, plagued by errors and limited availability. Even urgent cases—unaccompanied children, trafficking survivors, or LGBTQ+ individuals—are left waiting for weeks without registration.
Reception Conditions: Camps such as Malakasa remain severely overcrowded, with inadequate services and frequent reports of abuse, including against women and children. In Amygdaleza Pre-Removal Centre, people are detained for months with little to no legal access.
Cash Assistance Chaos: The EU-funded cash assistance programme remains unreliable. Thousands of eligible applicants have been excluded due to mismanagement, unclear eligibility rules, and administrative delays.
Legislative Shifts: The appointment of a new Minister of Migration and Asylum, known for his hardline stance, has sparked concerns. Proposed legislation would abolish humanitarian permits and restrict appeals, further curtailing protection options.
For more detailed information on the above issues, please refer to our ‘Key Developments Report’ attached.
Why ASsIST Still Matters
While many services have shut down or been restricted, ASsIST remains one of several providers offering free, independent legal information to all—regardless of nationality, legal status, or location. We operate on a lean model, leveraging multilingual, multi-national, and multi-skilled volunteer power and commitment, building community trust, and relying on secure digital tools to extend our reach.
For our clients, understanding a legal document, finding a lawyer, or submitting an appeal within the deadline can mean the difference between protection and dispair. Your support helps make this possible.
Looking Ahead
We are working toward:
Expanding remote access for people in detention or outside urban centres.
Developing a secure digital case management system to improve coordination and client follow-up.
We can’t do this without you. Please stand with us—and with those who are still standing, despite it all.
Links:
By Sheila Cross | Team Leader
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