The Hungarian government has now secured the final gap in its fence at the Serbian border, but the policy and its flow-on effects on other EU countries have sparked anger.
At the Serbian border with Hungary, hundreds of migrants chanted the German Chancellor's name, pleading for help.
The crossing is part of the main land route for migrants wanting to reach the EU's border-free Schengen zone.
But a four-metre tall and 175-kilometre long razor-wire fence now blocks their way, and Hungarian police are enforcing tough punishments - including prison and deportation - to anyone who tries to break through.
There are now only two official registration and entry points to Hungary.
Police buses take applicants from there to registration centres.
If asylum applications are refused, people will now be returned to Serbia rather than being given passage through Hungary.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic is angry at the policy.
"The idea of returning the migrants to Serbia with others coming from Greece and Macedonia is unacceptable. This would turn us into the recipient country. We want to be a part of the solution and not a victim of this situation."
United Nations refugee agency spokesman Erno Simon says elements of the new border rules are alarming.
"If somebody is an asylum-seeker and crosses the green border, crosses the border not at the official border crossing points, or crosses the border without proper travel documents - proper passport, visa - this is not a criminal offence, this is not against the law. If somebody is an asylum-seeker, [they] should not be punished, should not be sanctioned because of this."
Mr Simon says the UNHCR is also concerned over Hungary's decision to designate Serbia as a "safe third country" for refugees to be sent back to.
"If they cross they can be punished with imprisonment up to five years, if they cut the fence or damage the fence, the punishment is the same."
The Hungarian Prime Minister, Victor Orban, has defended his country's migration policy and border controls.
"If Hungary had been criticised in recent days for not being able to enforce the Schengen treaty, that would have been fair. But when they criticise us for trying to enforce the rules we had all agreed on, that is unjust and unfair."
So far 60 people have been arrested for breaching the new rules.
Mr Orban says he believes Muslim immigration presents a challenge to the European way of life.
"There is a growing threat of terrorism, let's be under no illusions. There is benefit scrounging because not all of those who are coming will work hard and there will be pressure on our welfare systems. But the real fear at least for me most importantly that our way of life has been challenged. Because people from this region, many from the world of Islam, will live here and in these places and then parallel societies emerge."
The coordinating agency for the EU's external borders, Frontex, says a record number of migrants entered the European Union last month.
Fabrice Leggeri is the head of Frontex.
"We have registered an increase of irregular border crossings. More than 520,000 irregular border crossings have been registered by Frontex at EU level. This is an unprecedented situation."
And in Turkey - outside the the EU, where many migrants begin their dangerous journey - the Governor of Bodrum, Amir Cicek, says new border controls are not deterring migrants.
"A total of 249 migrants were rescued. 22 migrants remained under the boat and drowned. Search and rescue work has been completed. The boat was towed. The boat has a capacity of 50-60 people, but there were 271 migrants on board."
And on land, more than 1,000 people attempting to cross to Greece on foot have been stopped by authorities in Istanbul.
Hussein Al Cuma, a Syrian refugee, says he was told his bus ticket close to the border with Greece was cancelled by Turkish authorities.
"We were forced to stay here. We want to leave. We don't want anything else. I thank Turkey, but we want to leave."
But it seems for many the prospect of a new life in Europe remains in limbo, as the crackdown on migration from the Middle East and Africa continues.
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