Bulgaria: Arrests of Irregular Immigrants Decrease in November Compared to October

In November 2021, Bulgarian authorities arrested 1,320 migrants from outside the EU, including 1,147 people residing illegally in Bulgaria, according to information posted on the Interior Ministry website. The rest were arrested at the border while trying to enter (110) or leave the country (63). The total number of arrests was 22.1% lower than in October.

From January to November, Bulgarian law enforcement agencies arrested a total of 9,574 migrants from outside the EU. Of these, 7,280 were staying in Bulgaria illegally, 1,310 tried to cross the border to enter the country and 984 attempted to cross the border. come out. The number of arrests was three times higher than in January-November 2020.

Of the incoming migrants detained at the border in November 2021, most, a total of 102, entered Bulgaria from Turkey. Another seven passed through Greece. Of those detained at the border from January to November, 42.9% were Afghans and 31.1% Syrians. Of those detained at the border, 293 were detained at the border with Serbia and 19 at the border with Romania.

As of November 30, 2021, 2,371 people were staying in the State Refugee Service camps. Another 353 were hosted at external addresses. By this date, the occupancy rate of the camps was 45.9%, compared to 43.6% on October 31, 2021. In November, 1,617 people were admitted to the camps and 1,383 left voluntarily.

Another 893 non-EU third-country nationals were using the accommodation of the Home Office’s Immigration Directorate on 30 November 2021, which means that their occupancy rate was 68.7%, compared with 89.8% (1,167 people) in October .

Since the beginning of the year, about 100 unaccompanied minors have been handed over to the Social Welfare Directorate.

Source: AMPE