Spain has adopted a measure to redistribute unaccompanied migrant minors currently sheltered on the Canary Islands to other parts of the country, aimed at easing pressure on overcrowded migrant reception centers. The Canary Islands, a popular destination for north African migrants hoping to reach the European Union, have struggled with a lack of resources to accommodate the thousands of unaccompanied children and teenagers who arrive on their shores. The central government in Spain is responsible for the treatment of adult migrants, while regional governments handle unaccompanied minors. The new reform will allow some of the minors currently on the Canary Islands to be transferred to other regions in Spain, taking into account factors such as population, per capita income, and unemployment rate.
The measure was approved after months of political stalemate between Spain’s regions and the central government, and has been hailed as a milestone in the defense of human rights and children’s rights by government officials. The minister in charge of Spain’s relations with its regions emphasized the dire conditions in migrant centers, where overcrowding has become a major issue. Regions like the Canary Islands and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which are unable to host more unaccompanied minors, will benefit from the redistribution of these children to other regions in Spain. Currently, the Canary Islands are sheltering over 5,000 unaccompanied minors, with plans to transfer approximately 4,000 of them to different parts of mainland Spain.
The deadly migration route between West Africa and the Canary Islands is one of the world’s deadliest, with nearly 47,000 people making the crossing last year—an all-time high. Most of the migrants hail from countries like Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, with many embarking on boats from the coast of Mauritania. However, the numbers for this year show a decrease, with almost 11,000 migrants having reached Spain by sea as of March 15, a 21% drop from the previous year. The reform to redistribute unaccompanied minors aims to address the urgent humanitarian crisis faced by the Canary Islands and provide a more equitable distribution of the burden of caring for these vulnerable children and teenagers.
While the details of the redistribution plan are still being worked out, regions like Catalonia, which encompasses Barcelona, are expected to receive only a small number of unaccompanied minors. The process will take into consideration various factors, including the region’s population, income levels, and unemployment rates, in determining how many minors each region can accommodate. The reform is a collaborative effort between the central government and regional authorities, aiming to ensure that the welfare and rights of unaccompanied migrant minors are protected and that the burden of their care is shared more evenly across the country. By addressing the overcrowding in migrant reception centers and providing better resources for these vulnerable children, Spain hopes to alleviate the strain on regions like the Canary Islands and uphold its commitment to upholding human rights and international obligations in the treatment of migrants.
