Canary Islands request a ‘declaration of migration emergency’
The Canary Islands Government has formally asked the Spanish State to declare a migration emergency, after the number of unaccompanied migrant minors in the archipelago has reached almost three times its official reception capacity.
According to the decree approved on Tuesday by Spain’s Council of Ministers, the islands have a recognised capacity of 1,737 places, but are currently hosting 5,017 minors.
Once the Ministry of Youth and Children officially declares the emergency, the reform of the Immigration Law can be activated, allowing minors to be transferred from the Canary Islands to mainland Spain.
Clavijo: “There are no more excuses”
Canarian president Fernando Clavijo said yesterday (Wednesday) that the time has come to act: “There are no longer any excuses to begin this process. I am convinced that the Public Prosecutor’s Office will intervene if necessary to ensure compliance.”
He stressed that the priority is to end the overcrowding in reception centres and to be “diligent” in guaranteeing proper care for these vulnerable children.
Central government calls for unity
Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, also underlined that the decree is legally binding across all regions: “This is law. Of course, communities may appeal to the Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court, but it is unthinkable that they would not comply. It is an obligation.”
The decree allows both Canary Islands and Ceuta, the regions most affected by irregular migration, to request contingency status once their child protection systems reach three times their capacity.
The Canaries, located on one of the main migration routes into Europe, continue to face mounting pressure as thousands of unaccompanied minors arrive by sea each year. Local authorities have repeatedly called for solidarity from other Spanish regions to help relieve the burden on the islands’ social and childcare services.
Share:
