Alarming: Nearly 2,500 foreign human smugglers released from Hungarian prisons
Recent data reveals that close to 2,500 foreign nationals convicted of human smuggling have been released from Hungarian prisons. Alarmingly, several of these human smugglers have reoffended, engaging in crimes such as vehicle theft, shoplifting, and repeated human smuggling offenses.
In January, Gergely Arató, a parliamentary representative from the Democratic Coalition (DK), posed questions to Bence Rétvári, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, regarding the status of these released smugglers. According to HVG’s report, Rétvári’s responses indicated that 17 of the previously released individuals had been reincarcerated. Further details from the National Police Headquarters (ORFK) specify that:
- Ten individuals violated the terms of their reintegration custody by failing to leave Hungary within the mandated 72-hour period.
- Four were rearrested for committing human smuggling offenses again.
- Three were detained for other crimes, including vehicle theft and shoplifting.
No system to monitor human smugglers’ whereabouts
The current system does not effectively monitor the whereabouts or activities of released human smugglers. Authorities merely request that these individuals exit the country, relying on their compliance. The only enforcement mechanism is the threat of re-arrest if they fail to depart within three days. This year alone, 2,435 convicted smugglers have been granted release under this policy.
Additional information from the National Command of Penitentiary Services (BvOP) indicates that 92% of foreign human smugglers are released under reintegration custody. As of mid-January, only 220 foreign human smugglers remained incarcerated, encompassing those serving final sentences, detainees awaiting trial, and individuals pending the execution of their sentences.
Criticism from Austria
The Hungarian government’s decision to release these individuals has been met with criticism, particularly from neighboring countries like Austria. Austrian officials have expressed concerns that released smugglers may continue their illicit activities, exacerbating cross-border crime and illegal immigration issues.
This policy, intended to alleviate the financial burden of housing foreign inmates, has inadvertently raised questions about public safety and the effectiveness of reintegration measures. The lack of a robust monitoring system for released individuals poses significant challenges in preventing recidivism and ensuring that released offenders do not continue to operate within or beyond Hungary’s borders.
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