Official: Migration pressure increasing at southern border

Migration pressure is still increasing at Hungary’s closely sealed southern border but the double line of defence there is protecting the borders of the country and Europe as a whole, a lawmaker of ruling Fidesz said at Hercegszántó, in southern Hungary, on Thursday.

Szilárd Németh, the state secretary of the defence ministry, chaired the meeting of Fidesz’s Anti-Immigration Cabinet held in the border town with Serbia.

Speaking at a press conference, Németh said that increasing pressure on the southern border is shown by the total of 15,009 illegal entrants arrested or stopped in 3,372 instances since the start of the year, well above the figures during the same period of 2019.

He said migrants must be stopped in order to preserve the functioning, peace and security of Hungary and Europe.

“Given the current situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, this is particularly important since most illegal immigrants would be coming to Europe from hotspots,” Németh said, adding that migrants must not be allowed “to bring in and spread” the virus.

Németh noted that Hungary’s 240km southern border section is currently protected by more than 1,000 troops helped by police officers making use of 180 vehicles, he said.

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Source: MTI