Ongoing illegal migration pressure at the Hungarian-Serbian border: the reality behind official data

The latest report by The Telegraph sheds light on the complex and dynamic migration situation at the Hungarian-Serbian border, revealing that it is far from as simple as suggested by official statistics from the European Union and Frontex. Although EU data indicates a significant decrease, between 27 and 58 percent, in illegal border crossings along the Balkan route during the first four months of 2025, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced and intense.

Migrants continue to arrive in large numbers, but their methods have changed. Whereas in the past, large caravans travelled together, today groups of no more than 20 people attempt to cross the barbed-wire border fences. These groups hide in abandoned agricultural buildings and empty factories near the border, relying on human traffickers and ladders to overcome the physical barriers. Most migrants originate from Syria and Afghanistan, aiming primarily to reach the United Kingdom or other Western European countries, The Telegraph says.

Their routes typically pass through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia, where migrants try to avoid detection by border guards and Frontex surveillance cameras. Human trafficking remains rampant but has adapted to stricter border controls: traffickers are increasingly cautious, seek new routes, and transport migrants through more remote, less monitored areas.

A serious incident occurred at the end of May when migrants opened fire on Serbian police officers during a border check near the town of Sid. One migrant was killed in the clash, four illegal immigrants were detained, and several others fled the scene. The police and the prosecutor’s office are working hard to find the fugitives and investigate the circumstances of the incident. Locals fear that such shootings could become a daily occurrence in the region in the future.