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Return Migration: Policies and Practices
Illegal Entry
Border apprehensions due to illegal border crossings by foreign nationals have decreased substantially
since 1993.
Irregular migrants transiting through the country used to originate mostly from countries in the
Balkans, Romania and Bulgaria. More recently they are also from Ukraine, Moldova, and Asian
countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and China. Many of those apprehended while
attempting to cross the border illegally 5 then claim asylum (about 26% of all asylum claimants
in 2001). The number of people claiming asylum seems to be proportionally related to the number
of people apprehended while attempting to cross the border illegally.
The increase in asylum applicants is matched by large numbers of disappearances from refugee
camps and repeated attempts to cross the borders towards Western Europe (previously towards
Germany, but more and more towards Austria). These disappearances amounted to 8,384 in
2001 and in 2002 – 7,797 out of total applicants 8,480. 6 Ukrainian asylum seekers comprise the
largest group, in conjunction with nationalities quoted earlier, as well as Vietnamese, Russians,
and more recently also Slovaks.
Smuggling and Trafficking
TABLE 1
BORDER APPREHENSIONS
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001* 2002
41,765 18,832 17,132 21,179 27,325 42,957 30,377 30,761 10,349 12,632
* January to June only. Statistics on illegal border crossing may also include multiple attempts by an
individual.
TABLE 2
REPORTED CASES OF SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001*
Total Illegal Border Crossings 29,339 44,672 32,325 32,720 11,657
Of Whom Smuggled 6,627 9,884 7,680 6,963 2,248
* January to June only.
The Czech Ministry of Interior statistics reported above seem to suggest that of the total numbers
of irregular migrants transiting through the national territory, those smuggled number around
20 per cent. A large number of those being smuggled are intercepted at the borders with Germany
and Austria.
In addition to the many Czech women allegedly trafficked abroad, the country is reportedly a
destination for trafficked victims from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, etc.
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