The Spanish Ceuta, still reeling from an influx of 72,000 migrants who reached its shores in one week, is seeking to transfer hundreds of unaccompanied minors who remain in the enclave to mainland Spain, as confirmed by local leaders on Wednesday.
Although the vast majority of migrants have since returned to Morocco, about 1,100 unaccompanied minors who arrived in or during the influx remain in Ceuta. They cannot be deported under a simplified procedure, according to local authorities. Many of them are housed in temporary shelters set up in warehouses or are sleeping on the streets, as reception centers in Ceuta are overwhelmed.
Political disputes over aid to migrants
About 75 people died during last week’s border breach at one of the two land borders of the European Union with Africa, causing alarm throughout the bloc and reviving memories of the migration crisis of 2015-2016. Although regional governments are obliged to assist overloaded territories in emergencies, tensions are rising between the conservative People’s Party of Spain and the far-right Vox party — which jointly govern four regions — over the implementation of the law.
The leader of Vox stated that “not a single euro” of Spanish money should be spent on migrant minors. Even if the regions accept them, experts warn that the process of identification and transfer could take months, as it will require individual interviews, reports, and contacts with countries of origin to determine if they can be returned to families in their home countries.
Source: The Straits Times
