These images are from a tumultuous year of a body of work that started in 2015 when the EU began to see the first waves of migrants arriving as the wars in the Middle East caused a more desperate situation. The work is part of a five-year study of the unending migration situation.

The people fleeing merely saw Greece as an entry point to Europe. However, over the years, leaving the country has become difficult, resulting in Greece having a refugee population of 50,000 people. This story was initially covered wall to wall beginning in 2015, but by 2020 and beyond, what became of the living situation for the migrant community several years on, as press coverage has waned considerably?

According to the International Rescue Committee, 16,000 people are stuck on the islands, mainly on Lesbos, Kos, Samos, and Leros, while 38,000 people are on the mainland in cities like Athens and Thessaloniki. Essentially those seeking refuge may have a better life than those living in countries with conflict and limited resources. However, many are still tethered to these camps until their asylum papers are processed.

In other circumstances, people are denied asylum or refugee status after multiple applications and, in turn, must navigate the question of staying and living without formal documentation, risking arrest, detainment, and potentially having to return to their country of origin.

I’m particularly interested in understanding on a deep level how families continue to progress while facing the weight of feeling trapped in Greece.