Illegal border crossings into EU up 61% in first two months of 2022
The number of illegal border crossings at EU’s external borders in the first two months of 2022 rose 61% from a year ago to nearly 27 000, according to preliminary calculations.
In the month of February, there were 11 850 detections of illegal border crossings, about a quarter more than in the same month of 2021, according to Frontex.
The total does not include the people who have been fleeing Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russian forces in late February. The highest number of illegal crossings was registered on the Western Balkan route, totalling 11 700 in January and February. This was double the figure from the same period of last year.
In February, nearly 5 700 irregular migrants were detected on this route.
Syrians and Afghanis were the two main nationalities registered on this route in the first two months of 2022.
