If you really don't like videos, and would much rather read (and support) print journalism, check out the story we just published on this @newhumanitarian.bsky.social

www.thenewhumanitarian.org/investigatio...

cc @phesimeonid.bsky.social @hopeamelie.bsky.social

Greece's Migration Minister has threatened whom he calls "illegal migrants" with "return, or prison".

So who are these migrants? And how does @iom.int stand to benefit?

@hopeamelie.bsky.social, @anasambri.bsky.social and @phesimeonid.bsky.social investigate.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwvR...

Big shutout to @menacius.bsky.social and @lstamellos.bsky.social from @omniatv.com for their excellent support in filming, editing and producing the video. We really could not have done it without them!

It's here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwvR...

Greece's new Migration Minister has threatened whom he calls "illegal migrants" with "return, or prison".

So who are these migrants? And how does @iom.int stand to $$$ benefit?

With @hopeamelie.bsky.social and @phesimeonid.bsky.social for @omniatv.com

J-2

Voluntary returns also allow EU authorities to circumvent international law, and the need for readmission agreements, as explained by @ec.europa.eu's Return Coordinator Ms. Mari Juritsch

#VoluntaryReturnsEverywhere

J-4

Dr @jfcrisp.bsky.social explains the three main reasons why a state would much rather deport people through so-called voluntary returns: safety, good PR, and cost.

#VoluntaryReturnsEverywhere

J-6

Professor @jpcassarino.bsky.social explains why the term "voluntary returns" is a misnomer, and that we are all better off calling them for what they really are: expulsions

#VoluntaryReturnsEverywhere

J-7
#IJ4EU #VoluntaryReturnsEverywhere

For a potentially good first step, you would run the image through Google Lens, which would give a good indication of the country or region where such buildings exist.

Welcome to @quiztime.bsky.social and it’s #MondayQuiz

🖼️ Can you find the exact spot?
📬 reply just to me with an answer
🤝 reply to all for collaboration
🌈 have fun

#VoluntaryReturnsEverywhere

@hopeamelie.bsky.social @phesimeonid.bsky.social @omniatv.com

Coming soon #VoluntaryReturnsEverywhere

@hopeamelie.bsky.social @phesimeonid.bsky.social @omniatv.com

6 months after the publication of our investigation, Cyprus continues to deport Syrians under its so-called voluntary returns programme.

Figures from @ec.europa.eu's statistical office show almost 2,300 deportations since January.

Each returnee receives €1,500 right before they depart.

🚨Wir zeigen Innenminister Alexander Dobrindt an!
Er weiß, dass Zurückweisungen an der Grenze rechtswidrig sind – und macht trotzdem weiter. Wir lassen das nicht durchgehen und stellen gemeinsam mit Equal Rights Beyond Borders Strafanzeige: fragdenstaat.de/artikel/stra...

Human rights lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou writes about how "voluntary returns" of Syrians from Cyprus are neither voluntary nor dignified for @bordercrim.bsky.social:

blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...

Also mentions the investigation by @hopeamelie.bsky.social and I into that very same scheme

Glad to see our investigation featured in @theecre.bsky.social's Asylum in Cyprus report for 2024.

Our investigation would not have been possible without relying extensively on these same reports.

cc @hopeamelie.bsky.social

asylumineurope.org/wp-content/u...

Hans Leijtens took the Frontex reins with a vow to renew the agency’s commitment to rights and transparency. With Europe’s leaders taking a hard line on migration and his initial strategy being adapted, is he fighting a losing battle? Our latest BIRN investigation
balkaninsight.com/2025/04/08/p...

Wir haben ein neues Testimonial.

Less than a month ago, @hopeamelie.bsky.social and I revealed how such coercion was pervasive throughout Cyprus' so-called voluntary returns programme, and was now being used against the 30,000 Syrian population in the country.

bsky.app/profile/anas...

"If you don't have money, tell me, and I will arrange," is how a police officer tried to convince 2 detained Congolese asylum seekers to leave Cyprus:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=brCd...

The asylum seekers spent 3 months in detention at Larnaca airport, where they had arrived on a tourist visa.

Right now/so far most of what I've done is research/investigations (on Frontex's and the European border regime's abuses/violence), I guess that's one way to contribute.
I'm sure there are more things in my city that I haven't noticed, but at the same time in 26 years of living here I've really ...

Doing another live tonight from 6-8pm. Come join if you want to hear me talk about Lebanon, my therapist leaving me, and the almost imminent collapse of the global economy. Also cat.
youtube.com/live/wtnTcjx...

➡️Neuer Aufsatz im Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies + Blogpost⬅️

Rückkehrhilfen dienen in Asylverfahren als Argument gegen das Risiko lebensbedrohlicher Armut im Herkunftsland – und damit als Argument gegen Schutz. Richter:innen setzen so indirekt politische Maßnahmen um.

shorturl.at/0nQXU

Update: a response from the @ec.europa.eu for this story.

In Oct 2024, it allocated an additional €8 million for Cyprus to coerce more "voluntary" returns.

This is almost 2 years after the first reports of coercion appeared on @infomigrants.net, a news website the EC also funds.

Something something schadenfreude