The immigration system in Greece has become a focus for the newly elected government. On Tuesday, immigrants and hundreds of human rights activists held a protest in Athens to call attention to the problems immigrants face. They want all immigrants’ children to be given citizenship, and the legalization process to be made easier.

[Mahmed Hamada, Immigrant from Egypt]:

"Getting citizenship and legal papers is really difficult, it's a big problem. I have been here since 1983 and I still don't have papers, it's really hard for me." 

The government proposed new measures for improving conditions, including granting citizenship to children of immigrants born in Greece. Until now an immigrant had to wait until the age of 18 just to apply for citizenship, and had to be living in Greece legally for ten years.

Human rights groups supported the move but said it is not enough because only the children of legal immigrants can apply.

[Antonis Draganigos, Member of a Human Rights Group]:

"The government's measures don't go far enough to solve the problem...all of the immigrant children should be granted citizenship unconditionally."  

Other measures include creating an independent committee to solely handle and speed up asylum applications. Legal papers are difficult to obtain, held back by delays and bureaucracy, leaving hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in Greece illegally.  

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has welcomed the proposals, which had previously criticized the country for its treatment of migrants and its low record of accepted asylum applications. 

Greece says it is struggling to accommodate thousands of illegal immigrants that cross its land and sea borders every year.