Figures show 537,237 migrants living in Greece legally
Greece arrested more irregular migrants trying to enter the country between 2008 and 2012 than are living legally in the country, according to statistics presented in Parliament on Tuesday.
Responding to a question from an Independent Greeks MP, Deputy Interior Minister Haralambos Athanasiou said there are currently 537,237 immigrants living in Greece with residence papers.
He stated that there is no way of knowing for sure how many undocumented immigrants there are in Greece but he did say that police and coast guard figures for border arrests act as a guide.
Athanasiou said 577,900 migrants were arrested between 2008 and 2012.
