A year after the European Union struck a deal with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants into Europe, asylum-seekers are still finding their way into Hungary and the country's populist government is doubling down protection of its border with Serbia with a new fence and controversial asylum rules.
Hungary first built anti-migrant fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia in late 2015 at the height of the migrant flow on the Balkan route, when sometimes thousands of people passed through Hungary each day on their way to Germany and other destinations in Western Europe.
While the country has since seen a significant reduction in the influx, Prime Minister Viktor Orban insists that the new security measures are justified because Turkey has threatened to terminate the migrant deal, and large numbers of migrants may soon head toward Hungary again.
A new, second fence to be loaded with surveillance equipment running along the Serbian border is almost complete at Tompa, a southern town of 4,400 residents where every corner bears a reminder of where you are: the Border Inn, the Border Food Store and the Green Border Pub.
Local resident Laszlo Tatar says the fence hasn't stopped the occasional migrant passing through the nearby forests after dark.
"Through the wires or by cutting the wires, I don't know, but they keep coming," Tatar said. "Poor people, they just want to go to Budapest."
Authorities are also expanding a container camp on Tompa's outskirts, where a handful of asylum-seekers a day are allowed to file their asylum claims.
A new Hungarian law ordering the detention of all asylum-seekers in one of two camps the other is in Roszke, 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the east has prompted stern criticism from United Nations agencies and human rights advocates, which accuse Hungary of gradually dismantling refugee protection.
Orban insists that stopping the flow of mostly Muslim migrants into Europe is the only way to increase security and preserve the continent's Christian culture and identity.
"The aim of the law is to put a full stop to illegal migration, close the Balkan route, lower the security risk and protect Europe's borders," the government said about the new asylum rules coming into effect next today.
"The tightening is particularly needed as Turkey is threatening to terminate the Turkey-EU deal, which means a new flood of migrants could set off toward the European and Hungarian border.
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