Hungary Completes Border Fence to Stop Migrant Crossings

Hungarian authorities took measures to staunch the flow of migrants at the border with Serbia, near Roszke, Monday, speeding up construction of a 4-meter (13-feet) high fence and reinforcing border patrols in advance of new immigration laws that will take effect at midnight.

Hundreds of migrants seeking to enter Hungary were stopped in their tracks as engineers strung barbed wire along steel fence posts, as a helicopter hovered overhead. The migrants were told to walk to the nearest approved border crossing about 2 kilometers (1 mile) to the west. Many migrants in the area made their way to a temporary holding center near Roszke.

In other countries, travelers found themselves derailed in their journey, one day after Germany reintroduced checks at its border with Austria to stem the flow of refugees. Both Austria and Slovakia reintroduced checks Monday, as Austria's chancellor said the country's military would be deployed to help police dealing with the influx of migrants if needed.

Austrian police said 14,000 people had arrived at Nickelsdorf, the main point of arrival in the past week, but a significant number were coming in further south at Heiligenkreuz.

German officials defended the checks, saying they were aimed at producing a more orderly flow of people. Interior ministers from the EU's 28 nations opened emergency talks Monday aimed at finding a way to share responsibility for the thousands of people arriving daily.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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