Greek authorities intercepted more than 120 migrants off the island of Crete early Monday, the latest in a surge of arrivals—despite the recent suspension of asylum claims and government plans for stricter detention rules.
Two boats carrying 58 and 68 people, believed to have departed from Libya, were stopped and the passengers taken to temporary shelters under guard. More than 100 others had reached the island over the weekend after weather conditions improved.
Greece’s conservative government last month halted all asylum applications for sea arrivals from North Africa, arguing the measure was needed to curb crossings that had peaked at more than 2,500 in a single week. The move, passed by parliament, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, the U.N. refugee agency and European human rights officials, who say it breaches international law.
Migration Minister Thanos Plevris defended the policy, warning that as many as 1,000 migrants were landing daily and describing the influx as an “invasion.”
The government is also preparing legislation that would impose prison terms on rejected asylum seekers and require ankle monitors before deportation. At the same time, it faces opposition from local officials in Crete over plans to build a permanent transit center on the island.
Greece remains a key entry point to the European Union. More than 60,000 migrants arrived last year, according to U.N. data, with over 16,000 recorded so far in 2025. Smugglers are increasingly turning to longer routes across the Mediterranean from North Africa as patrols tighten in the eastern Aegean near Turkey.
