The government of Spain plans to transfer some underage migrants from overcrowded accommodation centers in the North African enclave of Ceuta to the mainland within weeks to ease the migration crisis after last week’s deadly mass border breach. This was announced on Friday by the Minister for Youth Affairs, Sira Rego.
On July 30, about 72,000 migrants illegally crossed the border from Morocco into Ceuta by sea and land, with dozens of people dying, according to Spanish authorities. The mass breach followed several weeks of smaller-scale migrant arrivals. Most of them were later returned to Morocco, but hundreds of unaccompanied minors remained in Ceuta.
Sira Rego reported that 1,342 minors are currently registered, and additional staff will be involved to work with them. She described the images of children forced to sleep outdoors on the streets of Ceuta as “painful” and noted that two schools have already been opened, and additional facilities for accommodating children are being considered.
“I think it is only a matter of a few weeks before we start transferring minors to the mainland and ensuring their accommodation,” Rego told journalists during a trip to Ceuta. According to her, girls and children under 13 years old will be given priority for transfer. She added that the situation in Ceuta remains complex but is “gradually returning to normal.”
Opposition objections and cooperation with Morocco
The far-right opposition is against the transfer of minors to the mainland, where their accommodation is handled by regional authorities. Meanwhile, Morocco has stated its readiness to cooperate with Spain and other European partners on the return of unaccompanied minors who crossed the border into Ceuta last week.
Spain will consider Morocco’s proposal for the repatriation of children on a case-by-case basis, Rego reported. The Spanish agency EFE, citing a Moroccan diplomatic source, reported that administrative and judicial procedures in Spain complicate the return of children. “Spain is not creating any obstacles,” Rego stated, emphasizing that the country “will protect the rights of children.” According to her, specialized groups will assess each situation individually to determine the best interests of the child and, where possible, facilitate family reunification.
Change in migrant profile and overcrowding of centers
Rego noted that over the past five years, since the previous large-scale border breach in 2021, when about 8,000 people arrived in Ceuta, the profile of underage migrants has changed. According to her, there are now “more unaccompanied girls, as well as more very young children.”
The head of the local government of Ceuta, Juan Jesus Vivas, reported that local facilities can accommodate only about 90 children, but even before the last border breach, there were approximately 1,100 unaccompanied minors there. According to estimates by non-governmental organizations and local activists, the total number of such children could reach several thousand.
Source: The Straits Times
