Hungary's fence on border with Serbia proving futile in efforts to stem flow of migrants

A migrant family walking close to the Serbian border with Hungary, near Horgos, Serbia, early Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. The rush over the border by migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia followed Macedonia's decision to lift a three-day blockade of its border with Greece after thousands of migrants simply stormed past the Macedonian police who tried to stop them with force. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Hungarian border police officer directing the migrants away from the border fance close to the Serbian border with Hungary, near Horgos, Serbia, early Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. The rush over the border by migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia followed Macedonia's decision to lift a three-day blockade of its border with Greece after thousands of migrants simply stormed past the Macedonian police who tried to stop them with force. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

A migrant boy stands on the railway close to the Serbian border with Hungary, near Horgos, Serbia, early Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. The rush over the border by migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia followed Macedonia's decision to lift a three-day blockade of its border with Greece after thousands of migrants simply stormed past the Macedonian police who tried to stop them with force. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

The fence being built by Hungary on the border with Serbia meant to stem the rising flow of migrants trying to reach the European Union is being proved futile, as record numbers of migrants keep entering.

Police said that 2,533 migrants were detained on Tuesday, up from 2,093 on Monday and by far the highest figure of the year. After requesting asylum and registering with authorities, migrants are sent to one of Hungary's refugee centers but most try to quickly leave for richer EU countries like Germany or Sweden.

Scores of migrants were seen Tuesday morning by Associated Press journalists near the border town of Roszke, climbing over or crawling under the barbed wire to enter Hungary — just as they had done at the Greek-Macedonia border.