Greece’s Migration Minister has strongly denied allegations that the United States were considering transferring migrants to Greece and Italy.
Mr. Kairidis’ denial was sparked by a report by CBS claiming that the Biden administration was planning to refer some migrants in Latin America for resettlement as part of a fresh effort to discourage people in the region from traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border
Mr. Kairidis said the report was not accurate, explaining that Greece had “not entered into any agreement with the American government, nor has there been any request of this nature.”
The minister further speculated on the motives behind the anonymous sources cited by CBS, noting that the Biden administration was under “significant pressure with the upcoming elections.
“Europe’s challenge with irregular migrants saw 300,000 arrivals in 2023, but the U.S. encountered a staggering three million, a figure tenfold that of Europe.”
He emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying that President Biden was facing “a severe crisis at the southern U.S. border.”
While denying any current agreement with the U.S., Mr. Kairidis acknowledged ongoing discussions within Europe aimed at bolstering legal migration to address labour shortages.
“We have been pursuing this approach from the start, with six new accords nearing completion,” Mr. Kairidis said
The CBS report also highlighted a broader strategy by the Biden administration to mitigate illegal border crossings by providing legal immigration pathways.
This past year has seen a combination of such programs with stricter enforcement policies, including a new rule presuming ineligibility for U.S. asylum for migrants who have not sought protection in another country.