Illegal migration into Slovenia nearly doubled in 2023 after neighboring Croatia joined the borderless Schengen area, police reported on January 12th.
Surge in Intercepted Migrants
Slovenian police handled 58,193 cases of migrants entering illegally from Croatia last year, an 84% increase over 2022, Police Commissioner Senad Jušić said.
Afghans and Moroccans saw the biggest spikes.
The number of intercepted Afghan citizens tripled to almost 18,000.
Moroccans rose from 300 to over 8,800.
Pakistani and Russian migrants doubled to over 5,200 and 3,631, respectively.
Overall, illegal entries accounted for 96% of all migrant interceptions in Slovenia last year.
Adjusting Strategy, Boosting Collaboration
Jušić said Slovenian police have adapted operations after Croatia entered the Schengen Zone in October.
Data on apprehended smugglers — 554 last year, just 9 of them Slovenian nationals — shows improved efficacy, he added.
With terrorism threats rising amid the Israel-Hamas war, Slovenia reinstated border checks with Croatia and Hungary in October.
Italy and Austria have also extended controls.
New Routes Through Mountains
Recently, police discovered increased attempts to traffic migrants over remote mountain passes from northern Slovenia into Austria.
Since early December, nine smugglers trying to bring 92 people, chiefly Syrians, were caught.
Migrants originate from shelters in Ljubljana and Logatec, police said.
More patrols were deployed to intercept vehicles with foreign license plates.
Most Asylum Seekers Move On
Last year 58,757 migrants sought asylum in Slovenia, an 87% increase.
However, Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar said in December that 95% voluntarily continued their journeys.
At the same time, migrants who returned to Croatia dropped sharply, from 2,171 to 176.
Illegal resident cases fell by half, especially for Albanians, Bosnians, Serbs, and Moldovans.
Ripple Effects on Legal Travelers
While the crisis has focused on the illegal smuggling of non-EU nationals, the increased border security could impact anyone moving through the region legally.
For EU citizens traveling through the area, reinforcements along Schengen borders may mean more frequent ID checks.
Starting in May 2025, ETIAS travel authorization will also be needed for visa-free visits.
Family units, students, and investors immigrating to Slovenia or seeking residency permits could face additional document scrutiny and processing delays due to stretched immigration systems.
Putting Pressure on Tougher Policies
With illegal entries over four times higher than anticipated, Slovenia is pushing for tighter EU policy on border protections, refugee resettlement, and human trafficking prevention across the Balkans region.
As a conduit between the Middle East and EU nations like Austria, Slovenia’s experiences could influence Schengen Zone policies involving ID checks, ETIAS requirements, and collaboration with non-member states to reduce migrant incentives for entering illegally.
Curbing Exploitation, Upholding Human Rights
With tighter borders across Europe, Slovenia has become an important crossing point for migrants seeking better lives in the West.
Police are boosting efforts to curb human trafficking while trying to treat asylum seekers humanely.