After braving hardships and taking great risks to reach Greece, the fate of thousands of migrants and refugees is now -- uncertain.
Thanks to a controversial deal between the European Union, and the country of Turkey, boats are beginning to take migrants from Greece, back across the Aegean Sea, to Ankara, Turkey.
Millions have crossed over the water into Europe from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving their countries looking for a better life. But Europe has struggled to cope with the large number of migrants -- some countries have even closed their borders as a response.
In an effort to deal with the flood of refugees, the EU struck a deal with Turkey. The country agreed to take in migrants who arrived in Greece illegally after March 20th -- and who either failed to apply for asylum or were rejected.
Asylumis a form of protection given by a government to someone who has left another country in order to escape being harmed.
For each Syrian refugee that Turkey receives, it will send another Syrian that's been vetted, or screened - to Europe for resettlement. Germany announced last week that it would take the first migrants.
Instructional Links
Graphs & Maps: Common Migratory Routes into the EU for Syrian Refugees
Encyclopedia Article: World Book Student, Greece
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar234880
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Website Article: United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Asylum-Seekers
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c137.html
Website Article: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Asylum