Hungary to restrict migrants to camps until asylum status granted

Refugee and Migrant Crisis

Hungary will construct camps for refugees and migrants along its border with Serbia. The camps will host up to 150 people seeking asylum in the EU.

Their movement will be restricted until decisions are made on their asylum status. Hungary is also erecting a second layer of fence along the border, stirring mixed responses.

CGTN’s Aljosa Milenkovic reports from Szeged, Hungary.

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Cold weather and rain have not stopped work on the new layer of fence. Builders vowed to finish their work on an entire 170-kilometer (106 miles) stretch of the border with Serbia by May 1st.

They’ve started close to the regular border crossing, and also close to one for migrants and refugees. Every day, authorities allow five people to enter the stainless steel, revolving double doors into Hungary.

Thousands of migrants face new regulations from the Hungarian government. A additional, second layer of fence might prove to be an obstacle too much.

Despite public pressure from NGOs and civic society members, the Hungarian government decided to press forward with construction of the second layer of fence along the border with Serbia. This was done to stem further influx of refugees and migrants.

Not everybody in Hungary is against that government move. People from the small border town of Asotthalom requested and supported construction of the wall from day one.

“That situation was completely abnormal, because the state border was totally open. And this is not just Hungary’s border, but the border of the European Union. In 2015, several thousands crossed our village every single day. They basically ruined our lives. People were afraid to go out on the streets from their houses after dark,” Asotthalom Mayor Laszlo Torockai said.

Although Torockai is one of the leaders of the biggest opposition party, Jobbik, he strongly supports government actions in curbing illegal migrations. It’s something he says that all of Europe needs in order to protect its identity.