Two dozen humanitarian workers who operated on Lesvos during Europe’s migration crisis face charges carrying up to 20 years in prison, in a case rights groups say reflects a broader crackdown on aid to migrants.

The defendants received sentences of up to three years and were set to be transferred to correctional facilities

Migration & Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris made the announcement after a new and stricter framework for determining if an asylum seeker is a minor was implemented in late August

The Greek coast guard and Frontex vessels picked up another 56 individuals in the rough waters

This is the second incident in a week, after Greek authorities rescued 34 irregular migrants who were aboard a boat.

A report in the Athens daily on Thursday cited Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris as declaring as much during his meeting in Berlin this week with German Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt

Migration Minister Plevris also issued a circular, for distribution to asylum seekers, which states that 'If you are not a refugee and are not entitled to protection, then you have entered and are remaining in the country illegally', while warning of possible jail time

'The message will be very simple: you either work or you leave', Minister Thanos Plevris said, in detailing an upcoming draft law. Conversely, he said legal migration for guest workers will be expanded

An informal October gathering will bring together six key member states to shape the Commission’s “solidarity pool” under the EU migration pact

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself received Belgacem Haftar, the son of Gen. Khalifa Haftar, the de facto leader of eastern Libya, a day after a meeting with Greece's FM

The minister stressed that the measures primarily target irregular migrants without a refugee profile who entered illegally.

Minister Thanos Plevris spoke from the eastern Aegean Island of Lesbos (Lesvos), the hardest hit of Greece’s regions during the 2015 migration crisis

‘All migrants who enter the country illegally will be arrested and detained,' the Greek PM announced in Parliament, referring to the ongoing situation on Crete from irregular migrant arrivals emanating from eastern Libya

The delegation, led by the relevant EU Commissioner, was ordered to leave Benghazi after the de facto leader of eastern Libya, Gen. Haftar, declined to meet with them

On Sunday nearly 1,000 people arrived via landings or after being picked up by authorities south of Crete. A day later another 489 were located by the coast guard and Frontex units

Later in the day, Gerapetritis also met with Belkacem Haftar, who is tasked with Libya’s reconstruction efforts.

Migrant smugglers operating from eastern Libya have recently stepped efforts to reach or get near Crete before calling authorities for assistance

Stepped up migrant smuggling flows emanating from strife-plagued Libya are expected to top Magnus Brunner 's agenda of talks with Greek leadership

Residents battled flames overnight, meanwhile aerial firefighting begins on Chios

Authorities have not yet released details about the migrants’ nationalities or intended destination