Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a three-month suspension of asylum application processing for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, citing a sharp rise in arrivals on the islands of Crete and Gavdos.
A new bill submitted to parliament would also allow for the arrest and detention of anyone entering the country illegally.
According to estimates from the Greek government and relief agencies, over 7,300 migrants have arrived so far this year—up from about 5,000 for all of 2024.
Both islands are struggling with limited reception facilities, putting additional strain on local resources.
Most of the migrants come from the Middle East and North Africa, including Sudan, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
In a related development, the Greek Coast Guard rescued 520 migrants off the coast of Gavdos on Wednesday morning and transported them to the mainland.
Greece was previously at the forefront of the 2015–2016 European migration crisis, when more than a million people fled war and poverty in search of safety in Europe.
