Government Struggles with Repatriation Commitments
The Spanish government is encountering significant challenges in fulfilling its pledge to repatriate all immigrants who arrived in Ceuta at the end of July. Just two weeks ago, officials privately acknowledged that some minors would remain in Spain, either due to family reunification or because immigration laws grant such rights when there are no familial claims for their return and no guarantees from their countries of origin. Despite the Spanish government's public commendations for Morocco's cooperation, it is admitted by government sources to THE OBJECTIVE that Morocco has not responded to over 600 requests for the return of minors that existed prior to the massive influx into the autonomous city. Following a parliamentary inquiry from Vox, the government conceded that "in recent years," no repatriations had taken place.
Current Situation and Future Implications
During a press conference following the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, disclosed that temporary facilities in Ceuta currently accommodate 4,160 individuals. These persons are receiving necessary care and are undergoing triage and identification processes. The government has bolstered these essential operations for repatriation with an additional 100 police officers. Among the irregular immigrants, approximately 300 unaccompanied minors have been identified. However, the head of the unified command in the autonomous city noted that, after 47 days, only ten cases have been initiated.
While the responsibility for unaccompanied minors, referred to as 'menas', lies with the autonomous communities, the Ministry of Youth and Childhood announced at the end of August its preparations for the urgent transfer of 500 migrant girls due to their heightened vulnerability. This plan aims to alleviate the dire situation in Ceuta that has persisted since late July. The emergency plan, coordinated with Ceuta's authorities, includes solidarity reception from all regions, yet those governed by the Popular Party are obstructing the distribution process. Only Navarra has accepted to host five minors, while Asturias has shown willingness to accommodate another five. Both regions are under socialist governance, contrasting with the approach of Juan Jesús Vivas, the autonomous city's president from the Popular Party, who has been criticized for not seeking assistance as he has in previous instances. The government has accepted that it may need to take responsibility for these minors, a point suggested by President Pedro Sánchez during a recent interview.
Government sources have indicated that before the mass influx to Ceuta, there were over 600 repatriation requests submitted to Morocco, which went unanswered. This situation raises concerns that many of those remaining in the autonomous city will remain in Spain if Morocco continues to ignore the repatriation claims, despite the public expressions of cooperation from Spanish ministers. The government acknowledged in February of last year that no minors had been repatriated "in recent years," despite a bilateral agreement in place since 2007.
In January 2025, several Vox deputies registered a question demanding to know if there were any "problems" hindering the "effective repatriation of unaccompanied foreign minors." They also sought to understand the measures the government was implementing to ensure these returns and the reasons for the failure to comply with the agreement established two decades prior. In a response reported by OKDiario, it was confirmed that "no repatriation" of minors to Morocco has occurred "in recent years." Repatriations must follow Spanish legislation, which includes the Organic Law for the Legal Protection of Minors, modified by the law altering the child protection system, as well as immigration laws and regional regulations, all under the fundamental principle of the best interest of the child.
So far, 2,048 minors have been registered in Ceuta, although this number includes those who were housed in government facilities before the mass influx. Government sources indicate that 1,612 entered on July 30 and 31. However, Minister Torres acknowledged that there could be between 700 and 1,000 unregistered individuals. Once these minors are accounted for, unlike adults, they cannot voluntarily return to their country of origin, as regulations require the administration to protect them under the principle of the best interest of the child. The autonomous communities are responsible for managing these cases while their situations are assessed, which includes exploring the possibility of family reunification or return to their home country under conditions that guarantee certain rights, as established in Article 35 of immigration law.
This challenging scenario compels the government to reassess its commitment to repatriate "all" immigrants, including minors, a situation that has the backing of the European Commission. Internal Affairs spokesperson Markus Lammert stated in mid-August that EU law provides for their return and that the priority is for Moroccan authorities to "maintain control of the situation and ensure the swift return of all individuals who are staying irregularly." Morocco has assured European lawmakers of its commitment to repatriating immigrants and has denied any involvement in the mass assault on Ceuta.
The government now acknowledges that around 10,000 immigrants may still be in Ceuta, emphasizing the crucial need to establish new spaces for triage, which will expedite expulsions. Initially, the government limited the number of irregular migrants to 5,000, although local authorities estimated that this number was double. Most returns, approximately 90% of those who arrived at the end of July, occurred voluntarily within the first 24 hours. Since August 10, 5,482 individuals have returned to Morocco, while 307 have been expelled following the commission of offenses. The number of initiated adult cases has reached 1,822, but their repatriation could take months if asylum claims are made.
As reported by theobjective.com.
