Migrant flow on Crete rises despite tough asylum policy

Migrant arrivals on Crete are continuing to rise despite Greece suspending asylum claims from sea arrivals in July and tightening detention rules.

More than 120 migrants were rescued off the island’s coast on Monday morning in two boats that had set off from Libya. They were taken to temporary shelters.
More than 100 more arrived over the weekend as strong winds eased.

Greece’s conservative government passed a law in July that bars those arriving by sea from seeking asylum. The measure was approved by a 177-74 vote, but the opposition called it unconstitutional.

The emergency measures have been strongly criticized by international organizations.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed “deep concern” and said border controls must be in line with international and European law.
The Human Rights Council Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty said the approach exposed migrants to a real risk of suffering and abuse.

Migration Minister Danos Pleuris told parliament that around 1,000 people were arriving a day and the situation resembled an “invasion”.

The central government is also at odds with the regional government of Crete over plans to build a permanent transit camp on the island.

Legislative changes are being prepared in the autumn that would see migrants who are refused asylum detained and monitored with electronic bracelets for 30 days before being deported.

The Road to Europe
Greece remains one of the main entry points to the EU for migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In 2024, more than 60,000 people arrived in the country, mainly by sea, up from 48,000 in 2023.
As of 15 June 2025, 16,290 migrants had been registered, 14,600 of them by sea.

Following increased patrols on the eastern border with Turkey, smugglers are increasingly choosing the longer and more dangerous route from North Africa, where they transport hundreds of people on larger vessels.