Beachgoers have been filmed pushing a boatful of migrants out to sea after they tried to land on a Greek island.
In the viral clip, several men who wore swimming trunks were seen pushing the vessel from the the shore on Gavdos – a popular point of entry to the country, and the southernmost Greek island.
Migrants in the boat were later intercepted by a coastguard patrol crew and brought to the island’s port.
The island, which has a population of approximately 70 people, has reportedly been hit by a recent rapid influx of migrants.
But how is the Greek government dealing with the increase in small boat arrivals – and how does it compare to the UK’s approach to tackling illegal migration?
In July, the Greek government stopped processing asylum applications for migrants and refugees arriving by sea from North Africa, in response to the dramatic increase in numbers.
Since 11 July, migrant arrivals must either volunteer for deportation or face up to five years in prison.
Greece’s move was sparked by an upswing in arrivals from Libya through the island of Crete and nearby Gavdos.
This also led to the government temporarily banning processing asylum applications of migrants coming from North Africa.
The law stipulates that undocumented migrants entering Europe’s southernmost point from third countries deemed safe by the EU and not entitled to asylum must return home or be detained for at least 24 months and face fines of up to €10,000.
In September another tough new bill was passed that could result in asylum seekers who have their applications refused receiving prison terms, fines and orders to wear ankle tags.
Migrants wade into the sea to board a dinghy to cross the English Channel on 25 August in Gravelines, France (Photo: Getty Images Europe)Migration minister Thanos Plevris told MPs: “The message is clear [for migrants]: if your asylum request is rejected, you have two choices. Either you go to jail or return to your homeland. The Greek state does not accept you … You are not welcome.”
The legislation changes come amid a further toughening on migration under the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, including building a fence at Greece’s northern borders.
He has also boosted sea patrols to deter migrants from crossing since it came to power in 2019
Despite the strict measures being introduced, migrants are still flocking to Greece.
Over the past weekend, about 850 migrants arrived on Gavdos and the nearby island of Crete, suggesting the measures are not deterring asylum seekers from entering the country illegally.
Greece believes the new migrant surge is being deliberately encouraged by General Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who controls much of eastern Libya.
Analysts say General Haftar has two objectives: to extort money from the EU and to tilt the balance of power in a geopolitical struggle over oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey has close ties with General Haftar’s regime in eastern Libya. Allowing migrant boats to head for Gavdos and Crete is seen as a way of piling pressure on Greece.
UK’s stance on illegal migration
The UK has a different approach to dealing with migrants who enter the country illegally.To reduce the number of crossings of the English Channel via small boat, the Government has pledged to disrupt the people-smuggling gangs who are driving the trend – rather than adopting a mass deportation policy like Greece.
In July, it announced that 25 people – including gang leaders and small boat suppliers – had had their assets frozen and been banned from travelling to the UK.
It also said an extra 300 National Crime Agency officers will target people-smugglers arranging the crossings.
It also said it will set up a new Border Security Command body that will work closely with the Home Office, police, immigration enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The UK is also paying France almost £500m over three years to fund extra officers on the French coast.
In August the Government said it would overhaul the asylum appeals system as part of efforts to cut the number of migrants staying in hotels while they await a ruling.
In September it said it was suspending new applications to the scheme which lets refugees bring their family members to the UK. The migrants will now have to meet the same criteria as other migrants who want their dependants to come, including salary, accommodation and English language requirements.
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It also warned foreign students that they will be removed if they stay in the UK after their visas expire.
The Government has also promised “to clear the asylum backlog,” in reference to the backlog of claims by asylum seekers who are waiting to hear whether they will be granted refugee status and be allowed to remain in the UK.
Since 2020, the Government has been increasingly reliant on hotels to house migrants as the wait for their asylum applications to be processed.
Recently there has been mass nationwide protests over the use of the hotels to house asylum seekers.
Labour promised to “end” asylum hotel use in its general election manifesto and said it wants to fulfil this pledge by 2029.
The Prime Minister said he made tackling illegal immigration and “restoring order” to the asylum system a priority for the government.
He also has promised to “smash the gangs” which are helping migrants enter the UK illegally.
Downing Street has agreed a deal with France which will see migrants who have entered the UK illegally in small boats being returned to France.
Under the “one in, one out” pilot scheme, British officials are supposed to detain some of those who cross the Channel and send them back to France, in return taking an asylum seeker in France who can show they have family connections in Britain.
The deal was announced by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in July.
At the time, Starmer said: “There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables.”
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