A total of 26,540 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain so far this year, marking a 14.4% increase (3,343 more) compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior as of September 30th. In just the second half of September, a total of 1,248 migrants entered irregularly through various routes.
Specifically, arrivals by sea have increased by 20.8%, rising from 21,228 between January 1st and September 30th, 2022, to 25,640 between January 1st and September 30th of this year, an increase of 4,412. However, the number of boats they have come in has dropped, from 1,203 to 1,113, a 7.5% decrease.
Furthermore, the number of migrants arriving by boat to mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands has increased (10,487, up 23.4% compared to the same months last year, an increase of 1,990), as well as those arriving in the Canary Islands (14,976, representing a 19.8% increase, 2,470 more than in 2022).
Additionally, there has been an increase in maritime arrivals in Melilla, which has risen from 118 to 123, a 4.2% increase. However, they have decreased by 49.5% in Ceuta, dropping from 107 to 54.
On the other hand, irregular entries to Ceuta and Melilla by land have decreased. Between January 1 and September 30, 2023, a total of 900 migrants arrived through this route, marking a 54.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2022, when there were 1,969 entries.
