Following the unprecedented wave of migration, Ceuta is demanding that Madrid transfer hundreds of minors to the mainland.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

Local authorities in the Spanish city of Ceuta are seeking to transfer Hundreds of minors Unaccompanied migrants to mainland Spain, amid the ongoing fallout from the massive wave of migration that hit the Spanish enclave last week, during which some 72,000 migrants reached the city's shores in a single week.

Despite the return of the vast majority of migrants to Morocco, some 1,100 unaccompanied minors remain in Ceuta, according to the local government, as they cannot be returned immediately under Spanish and international laws on the protection of children.

Immigrant reception centers are facing increasing pressure

The city's migrant reception centers are facing increasing pressure, with many minors staying in warehouses converted into temporary shelters, while others are forced to sleep on the streets due to a lack of accommodation.

The latest wave of migration resulted in the deaths of about 75 people, raising widespread concerns within the European Union and bringing back to the forefront the migration crisis that the continent witnessed between 2015 and 2016.

In light of these developments, political disagreements are escalating within Spain regarding the mechanism for dealing with migrant minors, as the far-right Vox party refuses to allocate additional funds for their care, while the conservative People’s Party emphasizes the need to adhere to the legal procedures regulating this issue.

The city is facing a situation beyond its capabilities.

The president of the Ceuta regional government, Juan Jesús Vivas, said the city is facing an exceptional situation beyond its capacity, calling on the central government and Spanish regions to provide urgent support, stressing that the continuation of the current situation is “unbearable.”.

Under the immigration law reform that came into effect in 2025, unaccompanied minors must be redistributed from overcrowded areas to other Spanish regions within 15 days of completing their legal files, as part of a mechanism aimed at relieving pressure on border regions.

Spanish government data indicates that since the law was implemented, 719 minors have been transferred from the Canary Islands to other regions within the country, and more than 400 minors who had previously arrived in Ceuta have also been transferred.

On the other hand, experts warn that the process of verifying the identities of minors and redistributing them could take several months, given the need for individual interviews, the preparation of social reports, and communication with countries of origin to verify their family situations before any decision is made about them.

The Spanish government announced the allocation of 25 million euros to support the city of Ceuta in caring for unaccompanied minors, while the central government's representative in the city, Miguel Angel Perez, stressed the importance of solidarity among the Spanish regions in accommodating these children, emphasizing that the application of the law remains the only option to address the current humanitarian crisis.