More than 5,000 migrants cross the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in an unprecedented influx. The Spanish government in Ceuta says 50 additional Guardia Civil agents and 150 national police officers will be deployed to maintain security in the city. The crossings come amid tensions between Spain and Morocco over Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali's hospital treatment in Spain for COVID-19. 2021-05-17
Hellenic Police border guards open fire on migrants attempting to illegally enter Greece by crossing the border from Turkey, killing a Syrian man. 2020-03-2
A senior Turkish official tells Reuters that Turkey "will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe". 2020-02-27
The European Union says it is suspending Operation Sophia ship patrols. Instead, the operation will rely on air missions and close coordination with Libya. The EU also announces the mandate for Operation Sophia, which was scheduled to expire March 31, 2019, will be extended for six months. 2019-03-27
A migrant boat capsizes near the Kerkennah Islands off the coast of Tunisia, killing at least 35 people, while 67 others are rescued by the Tunisian coast guard. 2018-06-3
German Chancellor Angela Merkel defends her stance regarding the European migrant crisis despite her party losing in the key election. 2016-09-6
The European Union launches a new aid program worth an initial 700 million euros (US$760 million) to address the growing refugee crisis in Greece. EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides says the so-called Emergency Assistance Instrument will be used to help migrants trapped in Greece and, if needed, in other countries on the migration route front lines. Approval by a majority of EU members is required. The next EU meeting is scheduled for Monday. 2016-03-2
The United States government implements new restrictions to its visa waiver program which now requires, with limited exceptions, European, Japanese and Australian travelers to the United States who either have been visitors in the last five years to or are dual-citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan to obtain a travel visa. The new visa policies were mandated by legislation which was passed, in the aftermath of November 2015 Paris attacks, by Congress on the grounds of national security. 2016-01-22
"Reuters" reports the Obama Administration will be opening new screening centers for Syrian refugees in Iraq and Lebanon to speed up the process for getting vetted individuals to the United States. 2015-11-6
Following Austria's and Germany's decision to waive their asylum system rules, approximately 6,500 migrants β mostly from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan β arrive in Vienna. They traveled from Hungary by bus, train or on foot. The migrants were given the opportunity to register in Austria or move on to Germany. 2015-09-5