Greek lawmakers have voted to temporarily halt asylum requests from North African migrants arriving by sea, a decision criticized by rights groups as illegal. The move follows a surge in migrants reaching Crete and marks a tightening of Greece’s migration policies under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government.

Greek authorities have transported more than 500 migrants to a port on the mainland in an effort to relieve strain on the island of Crete after a surge in arrivals from Libya.

Greece's government says it is suspending asylum applications for migrants arriving on Crete by sea. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the decision in parliament on Wednesday, citing

The suspension passed by a vote of 177-74 despite fierce opposition from left-wing parties, which unsuccessfully challenged the amendment as unconstitutional. View on euronews

Greece is temporarily suspending asylum applications for migrants arriving on Crete due to a surge in arrivals from Libya, with over 2,000 migrants landing since the weekend. The government plans to build a detention site and seek collaboration with the Libyan coast guard to deter boats.