Closed Borders: Refugees Overwhelm Eastern Europe

ROSKE, Hungary -- Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants from the Middle East have flooded Europe, and now several countries are saying "no more."  For the first time in 20 years, nations, including Hungary, Austria, and Germany, have closed their borders.

On Hungary's border with Serbia, about 3,000-4,000 migrants are crossing everyday and that is overwhelming this tiny nation.

Comparatively, that would be like 100,000 migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States each day. So, what would you do?

The Hungarian government erected a 100-mile fence and has now closed its border with Serbia. There's no longer free passage for refugees.

Mohammed, from Damascus, was recently married. He and his wife, like many other refugees, found safety in Turkey. Now he wants a better life in Europe.

He was among those turned away at the Hungarian border.

Stephan Bauman, the head of World Relief, an evangelical non-profit that cares for refugees and immigrants, is calling on the U.S. government to allow 200,000 refugees into the country. Bauman is also calling on every U.S. church congregation to adopt a refugee family. Watch his interview with CBN News.

"Can you let me cross? Not able to cross here. But all these people crossed a long road, many countries to cross in peace," Mohammed said.

Police sent them through a field to another crossing, but now anyone who crosses without prior approval will be arrested.

The Hungarians have received plenty of criticism for not being more hospitable. The Austrian chancellor likened Hungary's treatment of the refugees to the Nazis' deporation of Jews during the Holocaust.

At the border, the United Nation's regional representative told CBN News while she believes Hungary can do more to help the newcomers, she understands the small country's limitations.

"I think they are making little effort; I think there is certainly room for improvement," UNHCR Regional Rep. Monserrat Feixas Vihe told CBN News.

"But Hungary is a country that has some resources. They have certain capacities and the numbers that are now entering are so big that they exceed the capacities of Hungary," he said.

Just before the border closed, CBN News found most of the migrants in good spirits. Some were thirsty from making their journey in the hot sun. Volunteers provided them with drinking water and food to eat.

They stood in long lines for hours. Border guards compassionately assisted them as they boarded buses provided by the Hungarian government.

They were taken to processing centers before they were allowed to leave Hungary.

The majority of these migrants are young men who may now find the pathway to western Europe more difficult. Germany and Austria are also overwhelmed. They have tightened their own borders.

So, why now? Why are the refugees leaving camps in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan? Has the international community failed them?

"I don't like to use the word failure, but I certainly think a lot more support is needed and it should be coming, you know, from everyone," Vihe said.

In the meantime, with the Hungarian border closed, the migrants are likely to seek alternative routes through Croatia and Romania.

Getting to Germany will be even more challenging.