site.btaMigrant Pressure Down by 70% in January-May Y/Y

Between January and May, 16,083 migrants attempted to cross into the country, which is a 71.3% decrease compared with the like period of 2023 (56,092 people). Of the migrants who attempted to enter the country, 15,350 returned to the interior of neighbouring countries on their own, compared with 55,596 in the same period of 2023, according to the monthly report of the Interior Ministry on the migration situation.

Between January and May, the majority of  apprehended migrants at the border were from Syria and Afghanistan. Forty-one people were from Palestine. 

Some 984 people were apprehended, exiting the country, of which 763 at the green border and 221 at border crossings. Compared with the same period of 2023, when 533 people  were detained, an 84.6% increase was recorded.

The data for May show that 5,534 third-country nationals attempted to cross into the country (5,523 - at the border with Turkey, 10 - at the border with Greece and one - at the border with Serbia). Compared with May 2023 (20,715 persons), there is a decrease of 73.3%.

In May, 223 migrants were detained for staying  illegally in the country. The majority were from Syria - 77.6% and from Morocco - 8.1%. Between January and May 2024, 844 persons were detained for illegal staying in the interior of the country. Of these 64.3% were from Syria and 22% from Afghanistan.