INTIME NEWS
A total of 216 migrants were rescued in the open seas south of the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos Saturday, authorities say.
The migrants came from Libya. Migrant flows from that country have increased significantly lately.
The migrants were retrieved by commercial ships and the Greek Coast Guard.
All of them will eventually be deported, said Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris on social media platform X.
“The illegal migrants that entered (the country) from Libya over the past few hours were arrested by the Coast Guard (and) they do not have the right to apply for asylum,” Plevris said. “They will not be led to reception centers, but will remain detained by the police until their expulsion procedure takes place,” he added.
In view of the recent spike in migrant flows from Libya, Greece has temporarily suspended asylum applications, raising objections from European Union officials.
Reception centers are used to house migrants and help feed them; they are otherwise free to come and go. But recent arrivals are not led there.
Plevris had promised to build a permanent detention center in Crete, but has since backed off in the face of local objections, saying one or more temporary camps will be set up.