site.btaInterior Ministry Reports 34.9% Rise in Number of Detained Migrants in July from June

The 2,576 third country nationals detained in July 2023 were 34.9% more than the 1,910 detained in June, according to monthly statistics on the migration situation that the Bulgarian Interior Ministry released on Monday.

Of the total number of detainees, 259 were apprehended when they tried to enter the country through a border checkpoint, 288 when they tried to exit, and 2,029 were detected inland.

The number of migrants detained between January and July 2023 totalled 8,740, which was 14.5% up from the 7,630 in the comparable period a year ago.

The Interior Ministry said that 1,598 third country nationals were held at Migration Directorate centres by July 31, which translates as 117% capacity, as the centres can accommodate 1,368 persons. Most persons held there are from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Morocco.

The centres of the State Agency for Refugees accommodate 1,800 persons, which means that their capacity is filled at 50.1%. Since the beginning of the year, 8,999 persons have been admitted to those centres, 7,891 have left of their own free will, and 1,690 have left after being granted protection.

In July alone, law enforcers detected 13 unaccompanied foreigners aged under 18, and they have added up to 25 since January 1.