The Government and the transfer of migrants
Since October 16, the Government has carried out the transfer of 26,225 migrants from the Canary Islands to the Peninsula, in response to the Emergency Declaration formulated due to the increase in irregular arrivals to the archipelago.
During the period between October 16 and December 31, 2023, 12,581 people were transferred. So far this year, another 13,644 have been referred, according to sources from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.
Situation of migrant minors
A relevant aspect is the situation of the more than 5,500 minors who have arrived in the Canary Islands by the same means and who are currently receiving care on the islands. This responsibility falls on the autonomous community, which has generated an overload on its resources.
Central Government Commitment
The central government has committed to making the necessary regulatory modifications to distribute these children and adolescents throughout Spanish territory.
Statements from the Secretary of State for Migration
The Secretary of State for Migration, Pilar Cancela, expressed in an interview with the EFE Agency that she hopes that within a period of “three or four weeks” the Government will be able to present a plan in this regard.
Cancela recalled that the Interministerial Immigration Commission was established, in which several ministries participate, to study and present proposals on this issue.
He highlighted the importance of prioritizing the interest of the minor over the concept of a foreigner, in line with the rulings of the Constitutional Court.