Greece grapples with migrant surge as new return‑hub law and port centre overloads emerge

The Greek government has introduced a bill to implement the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, creating "return hubs" in third countries to expedite the removal of rejected asylum seekers and tightening biometric border checks. Ministers say the measures aim to curb secondary migration flows and improve asylum processing timelines.

At the same time, the temporary migrant reception centre at Heraklion port on Crete, known locally as the "Refrigerator," is operating at capacity with roughly 240 migrants housed and an additional 192 expected after recent sea rescues. Local officials warn that the facility is nearing saturation, with many newcomers forced to wait outdoors. Community protests have intensified over plans for a new closed‑door shelter in the area, highlighting growing social tension over migration management on the island.