Spain Reports 6,791 Voluntary Migrant Returns from Ceuta
Spanish authorities report a surge in voluntary returns to Morocco, with over 2,500 security screenings completed.
Key points
- 6,791 migrants voluntarily returned from Ceuta to Morocco since August 10, with 222 leaving in a single day.
- Security screenings rose 40 percent in one week, covering 2,546 individuals through fingerprinting and interviews.
- The government estimates 500 to 700 unaccompanied minors remain unprotected in Ceuta despite identifying 2,300 total.
The Spanish government has announced that 6,791 migrants have voluntarily returned from Ceuta to Morocco since August 10. This figure includes 1,308 individuals in the past week and 222 in a single day, according to Ángel Víctor Torres, the Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory. These numbers reflect a significant shift in the flow of migration across the border.
In addition to voluntary departures, Torres stated that 318 migrants were returned under formal expulsion orders. This brings the total number of returnees to more than 7,000. The minister presented these figures during a press conference following a Council of Ministers meeting, highlighting the increasing pace of these movements.
Accelerating Security Screening Procedures
According to Torres, the rise in returns correlates with the acceleration of security screening processes. Authorities have completed screenings for 2,546 people, representing a 40 percent increase in one week. The procedure involves fingerprinting and interviews conducted with interpreters, during which applicants are asked if they wish to seek international protection.
Migrants who decline asylum applications face the opening of return proceedings, a factor that may encourage voluntary departure. Data from the previous day indicated that 74 out of 100 screened individuals requested international protection, while 26 declined. This split suggests that a substantial portion of the population chooses to leave rather than await a formal decision.
Asylum Timeline and Administrative Steps
Those who do apply for asylum undergo an interview and assessment before their cases are referred to the Interministerial Asylum Committee. This body makes the final decision on whether to accept or reject the application. The full procedure currently takes approximately 12 weeks, although the government is reportedly working to shorten this timeframe to manage the caseload more efficiently.
Dispute Over Unaccompanied Minors
The situation regarding unaccompanied minors has also become a point of contention. The government has lowered its estimate of minors living unprotected on the streets of Ceuta to between 500 and 700, while 2,300 have been formally identified. Torres noted that transferring these minors to other parts of Spain requires the approval of the Ceuta government, which holds guardianship authority.
Torres criticized Ceuta’s president, Juan Vivas, and the People's Party for allegedly obstructing the relocation of minors outside the city. According to reports from Yabiladi.com, this dispute highlights the administrative complexities involved in managing the care and placement of vulnerable youth within the current political framework.
