The hidden cost of the host system
The situation of unaccompanied minors arriving in Spain is complex and expensive. Each individual represents a daily disbursement of 239 euros for the administration, which implies a monthly investment of more than 7,400 euros. This amount covers not only accommodation, but also maintenance and various essential services.
The controversy on the actual age
The Prosecutor’s Office has expressed concerns about the possible manipulation of documents by young people who are trying to prove that they are minors. In many cases, these individuals arrive with counterfeit passports, which makes it difficult to identify. Authorities have recently found that a large number of these alleged minors were, in fact, of legal age.
Alarming data in the Balearics
In January 2025, a total of 72 immigrants arrived in the Balearic Islands, and 20 of them declared minor. However, police investigations determined that they were finally elderly. This discovery has led to an immediate reaction from the authorities and has shown the magnitude of the problem.
A system under pressure
The President of the Mallorcan Institute of Social Affairs (IMAS), Guillermo Sánchez, emphasized that, only by 2024, the IMAS had to allocate an additional 12 million euros to meet the needs of these minors. Foreigners. This expense has skyrocketed as the number of arrivals has increased significantly in recent years.
The consequences of forgery
Falsification of age represents a fraud that not only affects public resources, but also jeopardizes the well -being of minors who really need help. Between 2018 and 2022, the Prosecutor’s Office conducted more than 36,000 tests to determine the age, with 45% of the resolved cases that accredited the age of majority.
Perspectives futures
With the increase in unaccompanied minors, the situation requires a review of the reception system and more careful attention to the identification of these young people. The prosecution’s 2023 balance report has already warned of the possibility of age falsifications, and the authorities are expected to implement stricter measures to deal with this problem.
