Plevris: What is happening in Ceuta demonstrates that the circles are looking for opportunities - Ready to take every necessary measure

Mr. Plevris, noting that Greece, as a frontline country in immigration, “has found itself in the same situation at least twice,” recalls that “in February 2020 when we sealed off Evros and in July 2025 when we suspended asylum and detained anyone who entered illegally. In both cases, we protected our Homeland against an attempted invasion and the cries of NGOs and so-called humanitarians.”

“We found ourselves in the same situation a third time in 2015, when over 1,000,000 illegal immigrants entered Greece, because the government at the time did nothing,” notes Mr. Plevris, referring to the SYRIZA government period.

“Closing the seven months of 2026, the maritime illegal flows to our Homeland have decreased enormously and even in Crete, this year’s flows from Libya, after the initial increase, are now less than last year’s. In July 2025, illegal flows from Libya to Crete exceeded 3,500 and in July this year to date they are below 1,400," emphasizes the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, underlining:

"We are leading the way in changing migration policy in the EU. Tough policies, diplomacy and the struggle of the women and men of the coast guard and the police are bringing results."

Thanos Plevris's post in detail:

What is happening in Ceuta demonstrates that the circles are looking for opportunities and every frontline country has found itself or can find itself in the same situation. Greece with PM @kmitsotakis has found itself in the same situation at least twice.

In February 2020, when we sealed off Evros and in July 2025, when we suspended asylum and detained anyone who entered illegally. In both cases, we protected our Homeland against an attempted invasion and the cries of NGOs and so-called humanitarians. We found ourselves in the same situation a third time in 2015, when over 1,000,000 illegal immigrants entered Greece, because the then government did nothing.

Closing the first seven months of 2026, the maritime illegal flows to our Homeland have decreased enormously and even in Crete, this year's flows from Libya after the initial increase are now less than last year's.

In July 2025, the illegal flows from Libya to Crete exceeded 3,500 and in July this year to date they are below 1,400.

We are leading the way in changing the EU's immigration policy. Tough policies, diplomacy and the struggle of the women and men of the coast guard and the police are bringing results.

We are not complacent. The circles are lurking. We are ready to take every necessary measure to protect our Homeland, if necessary. However, allowing an invasion of Europe with your politics is not humanity, it is a crime.