Hungary votes for border fence against migrant influx

(Vatican Radio) Hungary has passed new legislation to tighten asylum laws which include the erection of a four-meter-high fence along the Serbian border to keep out the tens of thousands of migrants trying to enter the country.

The parliament approved amendments on Monday to tighten the country's asylum system to deal with the influx of migrants flooding the region.

Nearly 74,000 asylum seekers have entered Hungary in 2015  alone, which is up from 43,000 in 2014.

The construction of the new fence is set to begin within the coming weeks, and completed within months.

Other amendments include the ability to prolong detention of asylum seekers, and to cancel requests for asylum when petitioners who leave their designated residence for more than 48 hours without authorization.