Slovakia Deploys Forces to Halt Irregular Migration Along Hungary Border

Slovakia's newly formed government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has announced a significant deployment of police officers and troops along its border with Hungary in an effort to curb irregular migration. Fico emphasized the importance of controlling migration, citing concerns about the potential entry of individuals connected to terrorist groups into the country. According to the government, more than 40,000 undocumented migrants have been identified within Slovakia's borders this year. The country is increasingly being used as a transit point by migrants seeking to reach other European nations.

"We want to send a clear signal that with the new government, a new approach to illegal migration has come," stated Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok.

Slovakian authorities have been grappling with a rising number of migrants and are exploring new strategies to manage the situation. Reports from portal radiozet.pl indicate that approximately 2,000 individuals have been detained in Slovakia since the beginning of the year, with a majority of them originating from Syria.

Slovakia initially introduced border controls along its common border with Hungary in a bid to strengthen border security. However, the decision was reversed just one day after its announcement when no irregular migrants were found in the area.

Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized the government's determination to protect its territory from illegal migration, stating, "This demonstration of strength, which is being shown on the entire green border, is intended to make it clear to everyone, especially smugglers and organizers of illegal migration, that Slovakia is ready and will protect its own territory from illegal migration."

Poland's Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Mariusz Kamiński, announced an extension of border controls with Slovakia for an additional 20 days, until November 2. He highlighted a nearly thousand percent increase in the number of detected irregular migrants in Slovakia.

Many European countries are witnessing a surge in irregular migrants attempting to reach their borders, prompting several Schengen States to tighten their border controls. According to the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), a total of 279,350 people attempted to cross the EU's external borders irregularly in the first nine months of the year, marking a 17 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Frontex's statistics reveal that the Central Mediterranean region has contributed to half of the irregular border crossings in the European Union this year.

By fLEXI tEAM