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| Hungary MPs approve border fence and anti-migrant law | Hungary MPs approve border fence and anti-migrant law |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hungary's parliament has passed new legislation tightening asylum rules, and backed plans to erect a border fence to keep out migrants. | Hungary's parliament has passed new legislation tightening asylum rules, and backed plans to erect a border fence to keep out migrants. |
| The new law allows the detention of migrants in temporary camps, speeding up of the asylum application review process and limiting the possibility for appeal. | |
| The move was criticised by the UN and human rights groups. | The move was criticised by the UN and human rights groups. |
| Hungary has seen a rise in the number of migrants and asylum seekers in 2015. | Hungary has seen a rise in the number of migrants and asylum seekers in 2015. |
| The government says about 54,000 migrants have entered the country so far this year, compared with 43,000 people in 2014. | The government says about 54,000 migrants have entered the country so far this year, compared with 43,000 people in 2014. |
| 'Devastating implications' | 'Devastating implications' |
| The new legislation was passed easily in a 151-41 vote on Monday, with the backing of the governing Fidesz party and the far-right Jobbik party. | The new legislation was passed easily in a 151-41 vote on Monday, with the backing of the governing Fidesz party and the far-right Jobbik party. |
| "Hungary is confronted with the biggest surge of migrants in its history, its capacities are overloaded by 130%," Interior Minister Sandor Pinter was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency before the vote. | "Hungary is confronted with the biggest surge of migrants in its history, its capacities are overloaded by 130%," Interior Minister Sandor Pinter was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency before the vote. |
| Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told the BBC that from now on the Hungarian authorities would regard Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece as "safe" countries. | Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told the BBC that from now on the Hungarian authorities would regard Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece as "safe" countries. |
| In practice this means that almost all asylum seekers who reach Hungary - a landlocked country - overland will be rejected, the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest reports. | In practice this means that almost all asylum seekers who reach Hungary - a landlocked country - overland will be rejected, the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest reports. |
| He adds that most will not even get a chance to apply, because they would be stopped by the border fence, construction of which is expected to begin immediately. | He adds that most will not even get a chance to apply, because they would be stopped by the border fence, construction of which is expected to begin immediately. |
| The wall would run the length of the 175km (109 miles) border with Serbia. | The wall would run the length of the 175km (109 miles) border with Serbia. |
| The UN and human rights groups have criticised Hungary's immigration proposals. | The UN and human rights groups have criticised Hungary's immigration proposals. |
| The regional representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned that the legislation would have devastating implications for thousands of people seeking safety in Hungary. | The regional representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned that the legislation would have devastating implications for thousands of people seeking safety in Hungary. |