site.bta962 Illegal Migrants Taken Forcibly Returned to Bulgarian Border

962 Illegal Migrants Taken Forcibly Returned to Bulgarian Border

Sofia, November 22 (BTA) - The Interior Ministry reported Tuesday that 962 illegal migrants have been forcibly returned to the Bulgarian border since the start of the year. The largest number, 315, were from Iraq, followed by 206 from Afghanistan, 85 from Syria and 84 from Iran, among others.

During the past week alone, such administrative coercion was applied in respect to 51 illegal migrants.

The Interior Ministry Migration Directorate says that they continue their efforts to identify foreign nationals and duly register them in EURODAC, which is the European fingerprint database for identifying asylum seekers and irregular border-crossers, and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to allow their subsequent return to their country of origin.

The first group of illegal migrants from Afghanistan will be flown from Sofia back to their country in mid-December. The flight is being arranged by Bulgaria with financing and coordination from the European Border and Coast Guard.

The Interior Ministry said that since April, it has been seconding officers of various of its departments to the Greek island of Lesbos to support the efforts of the Greek authorities in dealing with the migrant pressure. Such secondment complies with a European Council decision of last March.