We Are Exposed to Attack by Human Smugglers

The cabinet has asked lawmakers of the ruling Fidesz-KNDP alliance to initiate the session to discuss an amendment to the penal code concerning illegal immigration, government office chief János Lázár announced during the break of the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.
The amendment seeks to make illegal entry a criminal offense and introduce stricter punishment for human smuggling. In line with the changes, illegal entry or damaging the border fence could be punishable by three to four years imprisonment, Lázár said. In addition to physical protection, we also need legal protection, the minister pointed out.
In consideration of the migration reports of the secret services and the European Commission, the government concluded that the number of migrants flooding onto the territory of the European Union via Serbia is increasing continuously, he said, adding: “therefore, in order to protect the country, we need technical and physical protection, personal and policing protection as well as legal protection”.
The government office chief also announced that the government had decided to deploy several thousand police officers to Csongrád and Bács-Kiskun counties along Hungary’s border with Serbia to control migration. The border guard units will be set up within the police force. Hungary is obviously “exposed to an attack by human smugglers”, he said. In addition to physical protection, the need may arise for police protection against illegal border-crossers “who are acting ever more aggressive and who are presenting increasingly firm demands”.
Lázár also told the press that the first section of the temporary border fence will be completed by 31 August, and the construction of the second security fence is “in full swing”.
Concerning the government’s planned campaign in migration transit countries, Lázár said that a detailed proposal would be submitted to the prime minister within three days.