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Refugees

Migrant Arrivals Continue Despite Greece's Asylum Suspension and Detention Push

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Greek authorities reported that over 120 refugees and migrants were intercepted off the island of Crete, with two boats carrying 58 and 68 people stopped on Monday, believed to have departed from Libya. This increase in arrivals comes despite a suspension of asylum claims for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, which was implemented by Greece's conservative government last month. The ban was passed in parliament after talks with Libya's Benghazi-based government to stem the flow were cancelled, and amid a surge in asylum seekers reaching Crete. The government is also planning to introduce legislation that would mandate imprisonment for people whose asylum claims are denied and require ankle monitors during a 30-day compliance period before deportation.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 120 refugees and migrants were intercepted off the island of Crete, with two boats carrying 58 and 68 people stopped on Monday.
  • Greece's conservative government suspended all asylum claims for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa last month, arguing that it would help deter crossings.
  • The ban passed in parliament after talks with Libya's Benghazi-based government to stem the flow were cancelled.
  • Greece's government has introduced measures to boost sea patrols and build a fence at its northern land borders.
  • A permanent transit facility on the island of Crete remains a point of contention between the government and regional authorities.
  • The government is planning to introduce legislation that would mandate imprisonment for people whose asylum claims are denied and require ankle monitors during a 30-day compliance period before deportation.
  • At least 26 people died after two boats sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa earlier this month.
  • Rights groups and United Nations agencies have documented systematic abuse against refugees and migrants in Libya, including torture, rape, and extortion.
  • Since the beginning of this year, 675 people have died in the central Mediterranean while trying to make the crossing, according to Filippo Ungaro, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Italy.

Statistics:

  • Over 120 refugees and migrants were intercepted off the island of Crete.
  • 58 people were on one of the boats stopped on Monday.
  • 68 people were on the other boat stopped on Monday.
  • More than 100 other refugees and migrants arrived on Crete over the weekend after strong winds eased.
  • Greece suspended all asylum claims for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa last month.
  • Over 2,500 asylum seekers arrived in Greece in a single week in July.
  • At least 26 people died after two boats sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa earlier this month.
  • Nearly 50 bodies were found in two mass graves in Libya in February, according to the Libyan authorities.
  • 675 people have died in the central Mediterranean since the beginning of this year, according to Filippo Ungaro, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Italy.

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera: "Greece to halt migrant asylum processing from North Africa" (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/9/greece-to-halt-migrant-asylum-processing-from-north-africa)
  • Al Jazeera: "At least 20 refugees and migrants die in shipwreck off Italy's Lampedusa" (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/13/at-least-20-refugees-and-migrants-die-in-shipwreck-off-italys-lampedusa)
  • Al Jazeera: "Libya finds two mass graves with bodies of nearly 50 migrants, refugees" (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/9/libya-finds-two-mass-graves-with-bodies-of-nearly-50-migrants-refugees)

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