Greece will extend its border fence with Turkey by another five kilometers and has a clear message for anyone who enters the country illegally: imprisonment or deportation, the country's migration minister said during a visit to the region.
"Illegal arrivals will know there are consequences. They are no longer welcome," Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris told reporters.
He said the government's strict deterrence policy, implemented since 2019, has now gained recognition across Europe as an effective model.
Mr. Plevris said the planned fence extension is part of a comprehensive security strategy that includes advanced electronic surveillance and increased border guard patrols.
He credited these measures with a 26% drop in illegal entries in the Evros region so far this year.
During his visit, Mr. Plevris met with the Mayor of Orestiada, Diamantis Papadopoulos, and pledged increased government funding to support border communities that bear the brunt of migration pressures.