Over the past week, the issue of refugees and illegal immigrants in Bulgaria has once again made the headlines. But if during the second half of last year, the country proved to be unprepared to respond to the migratory pressures from mainly Syrian refugees, over ten thousand on the border with Turkey, now the challenge is reversed: how the Bulgarian authorities could prevent illegal immigrants who have already penetrated into Bulgaria to leave, also illegally, across the border with Serbia and the Romanian border in the direction of Western Europe.

The statistics are truly alarming. Caretaker Interior Minister Yordan Bakalov announced reported that for the period 1 January to 25 October this year 2,140 people were arrested while trying to cross illegally these two borders

As noted by economists, in a market economy all niches for business sooner or later get filled. We can say that the same applies to the informal economy and organized crime. Since the beginning of the immigrant wave to Bulgaria, the so-called "traffickers" have appeared, who, against a good pay, meet, assist and transfer illegal immigrants outside the country. Just as experienced businessmen, "traffickers" have recognized that Bulgaria, the poorest EU country, is not the promised land for immigrants, but only a transit area to the rich countries of Western Europe. Within a few months only, 472 such "businessmen" were arrested. Unfortunately no one can tell their exact number as well as the actual number of illegal immigrants still residing in Bulgaria. Some observers do not exclude the option that certain officers from the traffic and border police might be involved in this “business”.

For Bulgaria the problem of immigrants is significant, including from a financial and social point of view. Millions of state money is spend to accommodate them and to provide border guards. And Bulgarians, though friendly and tolerant people, have some prejudices to "the newcomers" from the Middle East, including the fear that among them there may terrorists implemented by radical Islamic terrorists organizations.

Experts say that the authorities should start to get used to the terms "refugee" and "illegal immigrants" as the phenomenon is just beginning to emerge in Bulgaria and it may last for years.