Sociology

I agree with the author that Greece cannot resolve the issue of illegal immigration without a lot of debate.  I further agree that a set of rules is required to deal with the issue in a manner that produces positive outcomes, both for the Greeks and the immigrants from war-torn nations.  Indeed, as the author states, it is a very sad situation that people who flee their war-torn nations must go through so much turmoil, as the Greeks do not know exactly what to do with them.  However, I do not agree with the author that it is correct not to deport the illegal immigrants.  Then again, it is debatable whether it is more humane to deport them or detain them in jails where living conditions are horrible.
   
After all, people who end up in Greece, having fled war-stricken countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, are those that have tried to save their lives from bombs and machine guns.  If Greece were to send them back to their home countries, they may die in bomb blasts.  But even if Greece keeps them in detention centers they may die due to poor living conditions. 
   
The author states that illegal immigrants are often denied political asylum.  If Greece were to grant them political asylum, these immigrants would be guaranteed protection from persecution and assistance to settle in Greece.  But, Greece does not offer them any assistance whatsoever.  This is emphasized by the author as he argues for a set of standards to deal with the issue in an appropriate way.
   
Of course, Greece is the country where the modern-day concept of nation states was birthed.  As nationalism is in vogue at the moment, racial profiling is an issue to be considered in depth.  Those who flee their war-struck countries and end up in Europe do so because this continent promotes its high living standards.  But, fleeing poor conditions to enter a country where they would not be respected should not be an option for the afflicted.  Although the author does not describe various options for Greece and its illegal immigrant population, it is necessary to dwell on them so as to start a debate.  Undoubtedly, it may not take a long time, as the author puts it, to develop a set of rules to deal with illegal immigrants.  But it would take a while for a paradigm shift, that is, to change our minds about illegal immigration.  The following issues need to be addressed (1) As the world was a Pangaea at one point, who is to decide whether Greece belongs to one particular race alone  (2) To whom does Europe belong  (3) As Europe is involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is for Europe to decide whether these wars can be ended so as to resolve its own problems with increasing populations without jobs.  (4) If the importance of nationalism is diminished, everybody would have the human right to have a decent life in any part of the world in that case, Greece would be humane enough to help out people who have fled their war-struck nations to live decently among the Greeks.       
As the author merely mentions a lot of debate to address the problem of illegal immigration in Europe  in particular, in Greece  it is essential to think of factors that have caused the problem in the first place.  The author has not mentioned the philosophy of nationalism, or the fact that Europe promotes itself as an economically healthy continent.  These are vital factors to consider if modern-day nation states were to revise their foreign policies to suit the times.  Even so, the essay is thought-provoking, as it allows the reader to reconsider the causes of the problem with a view to resolve them.