The Coast Guard’s Open Sea Vessel 080 arrived at the port of Lavrio this morning at 10:00 AM, carrying a total of 247 foreign nationals from 5 incidents that took place over the last 24 hours in the maritime area south of Gavdos and Crete. The 247 migrants entered illegally from Libya and under the new framework passed with the asylum suspension amendment, they are not entitled to apply for asylum and are immediately placed under detention and return procedures.
Read: Migration: Rescue of 42 migrants south of Crete – Transported to port
Consequently, these individuals will not be accommodated in reception facilities of the Migration Ministry nor will they be granted freedom of movement. Upon their arrival in Lavrio, police are transferring them for detention to PROKEKA centers. Meanwhile, the Migration Ministry has secured facilities that will be provided to police to operate as detention centers for additional illegal arrivals.
According to Migration Ministry officials, the government’s message is clear: anyone entering illegally from Libya under the amendment will not submit an asylum application, will be issued a return order, and will be detained until then. The exact same procedure will be followed for new illegal arrivals.
Coast Guard and Frontex rescue 63 migrants off Gavdos
Coast Guard and Frontex vessels proceeded to rescue 63 migrants aboard a boat in the maritime area south of Gavdos, coordinated by the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED).
The rescued individuals were transferred to Karave port in Gavdos, where they remain awaiting instructions for their next destination.
It should be noted that on Saturday morning alone, a total of 175 migrants arrived from Libya to Crete in three separate incidents.
