Kontrát maintained that Hungarian national police could not participate in the missions because their resources are being spent protecting the border with Serbia. Kontrát said that Hungary bears the largest burden from illegal immigration, based on its population and per capita GDP, pointing out that, while only 2,157 illegal immigrants came to Hungary in 2012, 4,532 entered the country this past weekend alone.

The government faces criticism on this issue from the opposition, with opposition Democratic Coalition DK and Együtt (Together) saying “Hungaryʼs hate-mongering prime minister is not interested in reducing migration, nor in protecting European borders,” but rather this allows him to avoid the issues of education, health and corruption.

Meanwhile, the radical nationalist Jobbik party called on the government to pull out of the Dublin Agreement and “not to register a single immigrant,” claiming Hungary is unable to integrate “the masses of migrants”.