Thousands of Immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East enter in Greece every year by crossing the porous land border with Turkey. After walking through dangerous land passages during night (an effort that led many immigrants to their death while try crossing defensive minefields and the river Evros) they reach the village of Nea Vissa, the first main gathering point. Once there, typically the migrants will wait for a police bus to pick them up and take them to a nearby detention center, where they will be fingerprinted, given one-month residence permits and released; usually gravitating to Athens. Police say more than 45,000 immigrants crossed the Greek-Turkish borders in the Evros region during the first eight months of 2011. Although many apply for protected refugee status, Greek authorities accept less than one percent of all applications. According to European Union figures, some 90 percent of all people caught trying to enter the 27-member union, they only want a better live.
Thousands of Immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East enter in Greece every year by crossing the porous land border with Turkey. After walking through dangerous land passages during night (an effort that led many immigrants to their death while try crossing defensive minefields and the river Evros) they reach the village of Nea Vissa, the first main gathering point. Once there, typically the migrants will wait for a police bus to pick them up and take them to a nearby detention center, where they will be fingerprinted, given one-month residence permits and released; usually gravitating to Athens. Police say more than 45,000 immigrants crossed the Greek-Turkish borders in the Evros region during the first eight months of 2011. Although many apply for protected refugee status, Greek authorities accept less than one percent of all applications. According to European Union figures, some 90 percent of all people caught trying to enter the 27-member union, they only want a better live.