Greece now calls its migrant crisis an ‘invasion,’ suspends asylum, detains all new arrivals

It took some time, but it appears Europe is waking up to the impact of the invasion of migrants on its shores.

Greece is reportedly facing a “state of emergency” as the government seeks to deal with the “invasion” at its border, with an influx of migrants coming from Libya. Asylum claims have been suspended in the face of vast numbers of migrants, many male, arriving at Crete after a journey from North Africa, according to the BBC.

“Anyone who comes will be detained and returned,” Greece’s new migration minister, Thanos Plevris, told the BBC in a move that breaks with standard asylum policies in the European Union.

“More than 7,000 migrants reached Crete between January and late June, more than three times the number in 2024,” BBC reported. “In all, the EU’s Frontex border agency recorded almost 20,000 crossings in the Eastern Mediterranean in that period, with the Libya-Crete corridor now the main route.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament this month that all migrants “entering illegally” would be arrested.

“The road to Greece is closing,” he said.

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“I want to be completely honest. We try to strike a balance between respect for their rights and respects for the people in Greece,” Plevris said. “Anyone who enters Greek territory over the next three months knows they are violating Greek law.”

Reactions on social media applauded the strong stand by Greece, with many wondering what the rest of Europe is waiting for.

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Frieda Powers

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