Spain has approved a plan to transfer unaccompanied migrant minors from the overcrowded Canary Islands to other regions of the country. This decision aims to ease the strain on reception centers and ensure better care for thousands of young migrants currently housed on the islands.
The move resolves a long-standing political deadlock between the central government and Spain’s regional administrations. Ángel Víctor Torres, the minister overseeing regional relations, described the reform as a “milestone in the defense of human rights” and stressed the need to protect vulnerable children.
Torres urged skeptics to visit migrant centers and witness the overcrowded conditions firsthand. “In spaces meant for 20 people, there are 300, including children as young as five,” he said. His comments highlight the urgent need for action to improve living conditions for these minors.
Under the new system, unaccompanied minors will be transferred based on each region’s population, economic status, and unemployment rate. This policy will particularly benefit regions like the Canary Islands and Ceuta, which have struggled with limited resources to house migrant children.
Currently, the Canary Islands are hosting over 5,000 unaccompanied minors. Around 4,000 of them will be relocated to mainland Spain. However, wealthier regions like Catalonia will take in only a small number, with estimates suggesting between 20 and 30 minors.
The Canary Islands have long been a key entry point for migrants, particularly from North Africa. Each year, thousands of people attempt to reach Spain by sea, hoping for a better future in Europe. The Atlantic migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the most dangerous in the world, claiming many lives.
Last year, nearly 47,000 migrants arrived on the islands, setting a new record. Many came from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, often departing from Mauritania. However, Spain’s Interior Ministry reports a 21% drop in migrant arrivals this year, with nearly 11,000 reaching Spain by sea as of mid-March.