http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/hungary-takes-refugee-children-away-from-parents-as-it-declares-state-of-emergency-31528860.html
Hungary
takes refugee children away from parents as it declares state of emergency
Plans to extend 175 km
razor wire border fence with Serbia eastwards towards Romania
David Kearns
PUBLISHED15/09/2015 | 15:42
Hungary is to split up
families found illegally crossing its borders following state of emergency
declarations in two of its southern counties.
Any minor found without the correct
documents will be taken from their parents and placed in "children's
institutions".
Meanwhile the parents will be put in
one of two holding areas called "transit zones" while they await
trial for illegally crossing the border – a crime now punishable with a prison
sentence.
The new law came into effect at
midnight on Monday as authorities sealed a railway crossing point that had been
used by tens of thousands of migrants.
Hundreds of migrants are thought to
be stranded at the Serbia-Hungary border after the Hungarian government closed
the frontier with a new razor-wire fence.
On Monday night, Hungarian military
trucks cleared the makeshift refugee camp near the village of Roszke, as part
of the government’s effort to tighten up border controls.
Figures showed that a record 7,437
people entered Hungary from Serbia on Monday.
Hungary's government has also
started work on extending its 175 km border fence with Serbia eastwards towards
Romania, in case migrants start taking other routes into its territory, its
foreign minister said on Tuesday.
"We have made the decision to
start preparatory works for the construction of a fence starting from the
Hungarian-Serbian-Romanian border at a reasonable length should migration
pressure shift in the direction of Romania," said Foreign Minister Peter
Szijjarto.
The Government announced the plans
as it said its two southern counties bordering Serbia were now officially in a
state of emergency due to the sheer number of refugees entering the country.
The state of emergency gives police
extra powers and would allow troop to be deployed if the country’s parliament
approves.
The declarations give police the
power to search homes without a warrant if they suspect migrants may be hiding
there.
Also, courts will now be forced to
prioritise cases involving people caught entering Hungary illegally as border
crossing
Police said they had arrested 60
people accused of trying to breach a razor-wire fence on the border with Serbia
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said this morning his Government had been forced to officially declare a state of emergency in the face of his “nation being engulfed”.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said this morning his Government had been forced to officially declare a state of emergency in the face of his “nation being engulfed”.
A government spokesman said:
"It's the fundamental interest of everyone to put an end to the illegal
immigration process.
"It is possible migrants will
accumulate on the Serbian side of the border.
"Every single country where the
migrants are crossing should take its part in the joint European efforts,
including Serbia."
Starting Tuesday, Hungary will start implementing tougher border measures that may see those who cross Hungary’s border illegally arrested.
Starting Tuesday, Hungary will start implementing tougher border measures that may see those who cross Hungary’s border illegally arrested.
On Monday night, Hungarian military
trucks cleared the makeshift refugee camp near the village of Roszke, as part
of the government’s effort to tighten up border controls.
Figures showed that a record 7,437
people entered Hungary from Serbia on Monday.
Many of the refugees, who have been fleeing war zones including Syria, have been heading west to Germany, which said it expected a million migrants to enter the country this year - 200,000 more than previous estimates.
Many of the refugees, who have been fleeing war zones including Syria, have been heading west to Germany, which said it expected a million migrants to enter the country this year - 200,000 more than previous estimates.
Over the weekend, Germany tightened
controls along its border with Austria creating traffic jams at major
crossings.
The European Commission confirmed on
Tuesday it had received a notification from Austrian authorities of their
intention to temporarily reintroduce border controls with Hungary, Italy,
Slovakia and Slovenia.
The commission said Austria’s move,
like that of Germany, was in keeping with the provisions of the Schengen
agreement.
"The temporary reintroduction
of border controls between Member States is an exceptional possibility
explicitly foreseen in and regulated by the Schengen Borders Code, in case of a
crisis situation.
"The current situation in
Austria, prima facie, appears to be a situation covered by the rules," the
Commission said.
The White House said Tuesday evening
that it is up to European nations to determine the best way to deal with the
flood of refugees fleeing violence in Syria, and said the United States remains
committed to taking more refugees to help.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest
did not directly comment on whether the United States supports mandatory quotas
for refugees in Europe, saying it was up to countries to work together to find
solutions.
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