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.

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

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday harsher measures to address migrant flow from Libya. Addressing the parliament amid a significant surge in migrant arrivals to Crete island from Libya, Mitsokakis said the situation Greece faces requires "requires extraordinary measures."

Over 1,200 migrants have been detained on Crete and nearby Gavdos due to rising arrivals from Libya. Greece's foreign minister visited Libya to address the crisis. With resident strain and poor sea conditions,