Greece resumes migrant deportations to Turkey
BERLIN — Greece deported Friday a second group of migrants to Turkey as part of a European Union deal aimed at reducing the number of displaced people traveling to the continent.
The 45 people sent back on a ferry from Lesbos to the Turkish port Dikili followed a four-day pause.
The resumption of expulsions came amid protests in Greece by activists who say thousands of migrants are being held there in poor and overcrowded conditions. Delays have also been hampered by overburdened Greek authorities processing asylum claims. Anyone who arrived in Greece from Turkey after March 20 is eligible to be deported.
The deal between the EU and Turkey went into effect Monday, when 202 migrants were sent back, mostly Pakistani nationals. Friday's deportees were also from Pakistan. Under the terms of the deal, for each Syrian migrant that Greece returns to Turkey the EU will take in a Syrian refugee who meets asylum criteria.
Greece ejects refugees: Your Say
The deportations went ahead as Germany's interior ministry said Friday that its asylum applications plummeted in March to a little more than 20,000. In the first three months of this year, the country registered more than 180,000 asylum applications.
MORE MIGRANTS-RELATED COVERAGE FROM USA TODAY
Halt to migrant flood ends good times for smugglers