A shelter for unaccompanied migrant minors in the Canary Islands has been seized by Spanish police after serious abuse claims. On May 19, authorities arrested the head of the center and nine other staff members on the island of Gran Canaria. They were accused of harming and threatening children in their care.
The shelter, known as La Fortaleza (The Fortress), is located in Santa Brigida. It was meant to care for unaccompanied migrant children and teens who are under protective and educational care. The center was managed by a private company called Quorum 77 on behalf of the Canary Islands’ regional government.
What happened at the migrant minors shelter in the Canary Islands?
According to reports, police raided the shelter early in the morning on May 19 after receiving many witness statements. These statements claimed that children inside the center were abused, injured, and threatened. The judge’s order came from Spain’s first court section dedicated to fighting violence against children and teenagers.
After searching the shelter, the police arrested ten people—one manager and nine staff members who worked directly with the minors. Authorities said more arrests could follow as the investigation continues.
Spain’s Superior Court of the Canary Islands shared in a press release that this action was based on “numerous witness accounts and evidence” collected during the investigation. These included claims of physical injury, threats, hate crimes, and failure to protect the moral well-being of the children inside the center.
Is the shelter still operating?
No. The judicial police officially shut down the La Fortaleza shelter after the raid. The building has now been seized, and the court has placed the investigation under secrecy to protect the identities of the minors involved.
The court has also instructed the Canary Islands government to make sure the children living in the shelter are safe and well cared for. Authorities are working quickly to transfer the minors to new facilities where their safety will be guaranteed.
This case has raised serious concerns about how unaccompanied migrant children are treated in Spain. It also highlights the challenges in protecting vulnerable minors who arrive alone, often after long and dangerous journeys.
Spain has seen an increase in the number of unaccompanied minors arriving by boat, especially to the Canary Islands. The president of the Canaries recently urged the national government to do more to help protect these children, saying, “You have to see how they arrive with swollen feet.”