In the first half of 2024, Czech police detained 139 migrants during transit, a significant drop from the 799 detained during the same period last year. This decrease, highlighted by official data, marks a notable shift in migration patterns through the Czech Republic.
According to Josef Urban, the spokesman for the Immigration Police, the majority of those detained were from Syria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Turkey. These migrants were primarily attempting to reach other EU countries. Additionally, police apprehended four migrant smugglers between January and June, as reported by the Czech news agency CTK.
The primary destination for these migrants was often Germany, with some aiming for other Western European countries. In 2022, the Czech Republic became a key transit country, especially for Syrian migrants. That year saw 905 foreigners detained while attempting to cross the country, a significant increase from previous years. This prompted the government to temporarily reinstate border checks with Slovakia to curb the influx.
Syrians remain the largest group among the detained migrants. From January to June 2024, police detained 87 Syrian nationals, along with 10 Ethiopians and nine Afghans. The primary entry route for these migrants was from Slovakia, often using internal Schengen flights from Greece and presenting false documents.
The decline in transit migration is attributed to several factors. Ongoing preventive measures within the Czech Republic, along with actions taken by neighboring countries, have played a crucial role. Specific measures include actions by Serbia on the Hungarian border, checks within the Czech Republic and neighboring countries, and measures at the German-Czech border.
In 2023, Czech police detected about 14,000 migrants staying in the country illegally, a significant decrease from over 15,000 in 2022. This 52.4 percent reduction is mainly due to fewer refugees trying to reach other EU countries via the Czech Republic. Transit migrants accounted for 34 percent of the detained foreigners, a sharp drop from nearly 75 percent the previous year.