The Hungarian government has defended it's bill on “reinforcing the legal border seal” as a measure aimed at preventing illegal entry and movement of people of “unknown identity and motivation”, who would pose a security risk to Hungary and the European Union.
György Bakondi, the prime minister’s chief security advisor, said that the new rules, if passed by parliament, would be applied “at times of emergency caused by mass migration”.
Under the new law, asylum seekers will be considered as people staying in the country illegally during the entire procedure, until their applications are evaluated, Bakondi said. He insisted that applicants would not be in detention because “they will be allowed to leave the transit zone for Serbia at any time”. Those leaving the transit zone for Hungary without permission, however, will face detention, he added.
According to MTI, Bakondi noted that there are currently two such transit zones along Hungary’s southern borders, and said that while the government was not planning to set up further facilities, arrangements would be made to provide accommodation and board for more migrants.
Meanwhile, János Halász, spokesman of the ruling Fidesz party, voiced party support for the legal changes, and said that the bill was drafted in line with European law. He insisted that the EU would also benefit from the Hungarian regulations, as they would contribute to security in Europe.