Spain Takes Legislative Action to Expedite Migrant Returns
The Spanish government is actively working on a legislative reform aimed at reducing the processing time for migrant cases currently in the occupied city of Ceuta. This initiative comes in response to recent discussions between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, where Bourita clearly emphasized Spain's responsibility for the repatriation of migrants. According to the Spanish newspaper "El Independiente," the government is racing against the clock to finalize this reform by Tuesday, with plans to present the amendment to the Council of Ministers in their upcoming meeting. Following this, it will require approval from the Congress of Deputies within a maximum timeframe of one month.
Notably, the government is considering implementing this legislative change retroactively, which would allow it to cover migrants who entered Ceuta during the recent migration crisis, rather than only those cases that arise after the new law comes into effect. This move is particularly significant as the authorities continue to address thousands of migrant files related to those who arrived on July 30 and 31. The objective is to streamline the administrative procedures involved in returning these individuals to Morocco.
Ongoing Challenges in Migrant Repatriation
On Thursday, Spanish Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, reported that since the beginning of August, 7,533 migrants have returned from Ceuta to Morocco, with 7,099 returning voluntarily and 364 undergoing expulsion procedures. It is important to note that these latter cases pertain to migrants who entered the city prior to the July influx. The Spanish authorities have acknowledged that the expulsion processes for those who arrived during the July wave are still ongoing, with case resolutions potentially taking up to 12 weeks. Additionally, the initiation of new cases is currently progressing at a pace of 30 to 50 percent weekly.
The anticipated reform also addresses a legal issue that arose following a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court regarding repatriation operations at the borders. "El País" reported that the socialist government is contemplating amending the foreigners' law to tackle what it describes as a "legal void" concerning the return of individuals who reach Ceuta by sea. The Supreme Court determined that border refusals do not apply to individuals who enter by swimming when there are no "physical border containment elements," necessitating individual administrative procedures for these cases instead of immediate returns at the border.
In parallel with the legislative efforts, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita discussed the ongoing issue of irregular migrants still in Ceuta since July 30. The Spanish Foreign Ministry indicated that Morocco has reiterated its "full cooperation" to facilitate the return of those individuals who are not eligible for international protection. Furthermore, Minister Bourita underscored that the responsibility for the repatriation of migrants rests with Spain.
As reported by hespress.com.
