The Spanish government has reversed its decision and will allow 500 migrant children in Ceuta, its North African territory, to be transferred to the mainland. This move comes after Madrid previously stated that anyone entering illegally would be sent back.
An estimated 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta on July 30, but the majority have since returned to Morocco. However, under Spanish law, the state is responsible for caring for unaccompanied migrant children until they turn 18.
Earlier, on August 13, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated: “Anyone who enters Ceuta or Melilla (another Spanish enclave in North Africa) illegally knows they will be returned because Spain and Morocco cooperate closely. They will not be able to enter the peninsula, nor the European continent, and they cannot stay in Ceuta or Melilla indefinitely.”
The transfer of children to the mainland is a sensitive issue, as some regions governed by the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox party have shown reluctance to accept their quotas. To ease tensions, the Ministry of Youth, in coordination with the Ceuta government, is developing an emergency plan in which NGOs and child protection agencies will take in the most vulnerable children, especially girls, without transferring guardianship to regional authorities.
Secretary of State for Children Rubén Pérez Correa has been in Ceuta since Sunday to address the situation of hundreds of children living on the streets, dependent on the help of local residents.
The news of the government's plan came just hours after the European Commission stated that under EU law, all remaining irregular migrants in Ceuta, including unaccompanied minors, must be returned to Morocco. However, the conflicting messages stem from the fact that the EU's latest migration pact has not yet been incorporated into Spanish law, so the country's current legislation on the treatment of unaccompanied minors remains in force.
The opposition People's Party rejected the government's plan, arguing that the best place for children is with their families. The party's deputy finance spokesman, Juan Bravo, said on television: “If Morocco asks for the children to be returned and Europe says all illegal immigrants must be sent back, whether children or not, what more does the government need?”
According to Spain's Ministry of Inclusion and Migration, as of March last year, 21,104 people aged 16 to 23 were under state guardianship, of whom about 3,500 were under 17. Around 50% of these came from Morocco, and girls made up about 8% of the total.
