Spain's Minister Accuses Morocco of Inaction on Minor Repatriations

In a recent statement that has sparked significant attention, the Spanish Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, has placed the responsibility for the delays in repatriating unaccompanied minors squarely on Morocco. This assertion came shortly after a communication from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Spain for its failure to return unaccompanied minors and for expelling migrants who entered Spanish territory during a turbulent period of migration attempts.

During an interview on Spanish television, Minister Rego claimed that there had been specific instances where children expressed a desire to reunite with their families prior to the events of July 30. However, she lamented that these reunifications had not materialized due to what she described as a "lack of response and action from Morocco." Furthermore, she indicated that the Spanish public prosecutor’s office has opened around 600 cases related to procedures that predated the massive influx of migrants, to which Morocco allegedly did not respond.

Rego emphasized that the processes in place to establish familial connections and facilitate the return of these minors adhere to legal guarantees and human rights standards. She underscored the necessity of cooperation from the minors' country of origin, suggesting that the processing of these cases could take several months. The minister also noted the urgent need to transfer some of these minors to the Iberian Peninsula due to the significant pressures being faced in Ceuta. She clarified that family reunification or care arrangements could continue in other regions under the same legal protections.

According to the Spanish official, there are currently approximately 2,000 unaccompanied foreign minors in Ceuta. While some of these children lack a stable family environment to return to, others, including several young girls, are fleeing challenging situations such as forced marriages, highlighting the complex humanitarian aspects of this issue.

As reported by yabiladi.com.