In a significant move to address the ongoing migrant crisis in Ceuta, Spain's Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has formally requested assistance from Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. This request, directed to Beate Gminder, the Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, comes after a dramatic influx of thousands of migrants into this Spanish exclave located on the northern coast of Africa. Gminder had already offered support on August 21, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated efforts in managing this complex situation.
The Spanish government, currently under pressure from a mass arrival of tens of thousands of migrants at the end of July, is facing a challenging predicament. With legal constraints preventing the swift deportation of those migrants still present, the government is caught in a dilemma, unwilling to transfer them to the mainland amidst growing unrest among local residents who are increasingly voicing their opposition to the migrants' presence.
According to Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska, approximately 72,000 migrants made the perilous journey from Morocco to Ceuta on July 30 and 31, with many returning shortly after. However, as of a recent parliamentary session, around 5,000 migrants remain in the area, which is notably smaller than Frankfurt Airport. The local population, which numbers nearly 85,000, has begun demonstrating violently against the migrants, further complicating the government's response.
International law and Spanish court rulings prohibit the collective expulsion of migrants without individual assessments, thereby limiting the government's options. The administration has ruled out transferring migrants temporarily from Ceuta, which is not part of the Schengen Area, to the Spanish mainland. Such an action could provoke significant backlash from conservative-ruled autonomous regions and elicit renewed criticism from other EU countries, potentially violating Schengen regulations and jeopardizing Spain's position within the EU's borderless travel zone. Currently, only about 500 particularly vulnerable unaccompanied minors are slated to be transported to the mainland.
In light of these circumstances, the Interior Ministry has requested the deployment of ten additional Frontex officials to expedite the registration and initial assessments of migrants. The ministry has emphasized that support from the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) in conducting interviews and providing interpreters during this process would be invaluable. Given the limited facilities in Ceuta, these evaluations may also be carried out remotely, ensuring efficiency in managing the situation.
As reported by radioherford.de.
