1/20
One of the reasons I’m here in Beregsurany, Hungary on the border of Ukraine is because thousands of Ukrainians who have been driven from their homes are seeking safety right here. #velshi
One of the reasons I’m here in Beregsurany, Hungary on the border of Ukraine is because thousands of Ukrainians who have been driven from their homes are seeking safety right here. #velshi
2/20
Hungary has welcomed around 145,000 refugees since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. On Thursday night, I was at a train station in Budapest at which thousands of refugees were arriving. #velshi
Hungary has welcomed around 145,000 refugees since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. On Thursday night, I was at a train station in Budapest at which thousands of refugees were arriving. #velshi
3/20
Hungarian civilians, churches, the Red Cross and other rescue organizations set up a well-organized humanitarian mission to feed, transport and help house the asylum seekers, some of whom had been immigrants to Ukraine themselves. #velshi
Hungarian civilians, churches, the Red Cross and other rescue organizations set up a well-organized humanitarian mission to feed, transport and help house the asylum seekers, some of whom had been immigrants to Ukraine themselves. #velshi
4/20
What’s interesting about Hungary, which is a NATO country, is that just hours after the hostilities with Russia began, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban reversed his hardline border policies, opening the country’s doors to the people of Ukraine saying… #velshi
What’s interesting about Hungary, which is a NATO country, is that just hours after the hostilities with Russia began, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban reversed his hardline border policies, opening the country’s doors to the people of Ukraine saying… #velshi
5/20
“We’re prepared to take care of them, and we’ll be able to rise to the challenge quickly and efficiently.” That’s an uncharacteristically empathic outlook coming from Viktor Orban. #velshi
“We’re prepared to take care of them, and we’ll be able to rise to the challenge quickly and efficiently.” That’s an uncharacteristically empathic outlook coming from Viktor Orban. #velshi
6/20
His far-right policies make recent American responses to border crossings look saintly & are a major change from the way Hungary itself handled its last migration challenge 7 yrs ago. Hungary has some of the strictest - and cruelest- border laws in the European Union.#velshi
His far-right policies make recent American responses to border crossings look saintly & are a major change from the way Hungary itself handled its last migration challenge 7 yrs ago. Hungary has some of the strictest - and cruelest- border laws in the European Union.#velshi
7/20
Much to Orban’s credit. Ever since the start of the 2015 refugee crisis - when migrants from the Middle East-mainly Syria - began to seek refuge in countries like Greece, Poland, and Hungary - Orban has branded himself as an anti-migrant nationalist. #velshi
Much to Orban’s credit. Ever since the start of the 2015 refugee crisis - when migrants from the Middle East-mainly Syria - began to seek refuge in countries like Greece, Poland, and Hungary - Orban has branded himself as an anti-migrant nationalist. #velshi
8/20
He’s on record demonizing those migrants as “Muslim invaders” and calling the migration influx a “poison”. But if actions speak louder than words, you’ll really be convinced of Orban’s xenophobia. #velshi
He’s on record demonizing those migrants as “Muslim invaders” and calling the migration influx a “poison”. But if actions speak louder than words, you’ll really be convinced of Orban’s xenophobia. #velshi
9/20
Back in 2015, while other European countries were legitimately- if often poorly - scrambling to figure out how to accept and integrate the asylum seekers, Orban instead launched a multi-million-dollar anti-immigrant campaign. #velshi
Back in 2015, while other European countries were legitimately- if often poorly - scrambling to figure out how to accept and integrate the asylum seekers, Orban instead launched a multi-million-dollar anti-immigrant campaign. #velshi
10/20
Hungary’s borders were all but closed to Middle Eastern migrants-- not white, non-Christians. A razor-wire fence was installed along its Serbian border and Hungary’s criminal code was strengthened to call for harsher jail sentences for unauthorized border crossings. #velshi
Hungary’s borders were all but closed to Middle Eastern migrants-- not white, non-Christians. A razor-wire fence was installed along its Serbian border and Hungary’s criminal code was strengthened to call for harsher jail sentences for unauthorized border crossings. #velshi
11/20
In 2016, Hungary established a “pushback law” which made it legal for law enforcement to quite literally push migrants back over the border. And they did so with remarkable force and violence. #velshi
In 2016, Hungary established a “pushback law” which made it legal for law enforcement to quite literally push migrants back over the border. And they did so with remarkable force and violence. #velshi
12/20
In 2018 Hungary passed the “Stop Soros” bill, based in a virulent right-wing lie about the American George Soros. The law created a new category of crime: “promoting and supporting illegal migration” making it illegal to provide assistance to undocumented immigrants #velshi
In 2018 Hungary passed the “Stop Soros” bill, based in a virulent right-wing lie about the American George Soros. The law created a new category of crime: “promoting and supporting illegal migration” making it illegal to provide assistance to undocumented immigrants #velshi
13/20
But things have changed. Or have they? There is a stark difference between Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s relative hospitality toward European refugees and his past treatment of Muslim refugees. #velshi
But things have changed. Or have they? There is a stark difference between Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s relative hospitality toward European refugees and his past treatment of Muslim refugees. #velshi
14/20
To Orban, the difference lies in who he considers “migrants” and “refugees”. Orban told Al Jazeera this week, “Migrants are stopped. Refugees can get all the help”. Can’t say I’m sure what he means by that. He added, “We are not living in a comfortable West..." #velshi
To Orban, the difference lies in who he considers “migrants” and “refugees”. Orban told Al Jazeera this week, “Migrants are stopped. Refugees can get all the help”. Can’t say I’m sure what he means by that. He added, “We are not living in a comfortable West..." #velshi
15/20
"We are living in the midst of difficulties, not just now but throughout our history, so we are able to tell the difference between who is a migrant and who is a refugee.” In other words, who deserves the help. And who doesn’t. #velshi
"We are living in the midst of difficulties, not just now but throughout our history, so we are able to tell the difference between who is a migrant and who is a refugee.” In other words, who deserves the help. And who doesn’t. #velshi
16/20
It’s worth noting that even in this crisis, while the rest of Europe agreed to extend residency and work permits to those entering from Ukraine, Hungary initially prevaricated saying asylum policies in place are good enough. #velshi
It’s worth noting that even in this crisis, while the rest of Europe agreed to extend residency and work permits to those entering from Ukraine, Hungary initially prevaricated saying asylum policies in place are good enough. #velshi
17/20
BUT eventually relented under pressure from fellow European nations, and in the face of stinging criticism from at home and abroad. #velshi
BUT eventually relented under pressure from fellow European nations, and in the face of stinging criticism from at home and abroad. #velshi
18/20
Hungary has become so anti-immigrant that even the white Christian ones scare them a bit. Not as much as the Muslim ones, but still. #velshi
Hungary has become so anti-immigrant that even the white Christian ones scare them a bit. Not as much as the Muslim ones, but still. #velshi
19/20
The one saving grace was watching how I witnessed Hungarian CIVILIANS, not the government, welcoming those from Ukraine, of all colors, at a train station in Budapest. #velshi
The one saving grace was watching how I witnessed Hungarian CIVILIANS, not the government, welcoming those from Ukraine, of all colors, at a train station in Budapest. #velshi
20/20
Though many of those volunteers privately made a point to tell me, they weren’t there because of the Hungarian government’s migration policies, but in spite of them. #velshi
Though many of those volunteers privately made a point to tell me, they weren’t there because of the Hungarian government’s migration policies, but in spite of them. #velshi
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