Ceuta: a deficient management and a hypocritical opposition

BarcelonaTwenty days after the Ceuta migratory crisis, the Spanish government seems to be starting to realize that it also has a humanitarian crisis to manage. After the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, insisted at first that all the people who crossed the border that day would return on their own as if by magic, the passage of days has shown a much more dramatic reality. Almost three weeks after the entry, there is not even an official figure of how many adult and minor migrants remain in the city. It is known, however, that 2,168 children are registered in the protection system, although registrations are ongoing. Estimates from NGOs and the Ceuta government are that between 5,000 and 8,000 migrants remain in the autonomous city. Returns, however, continue to be very slow. And, meanwhile, all these people, including minors, have spent days and days without any kind of attention or place to stay, thus creating a very critical situation in the city.

In recent days, agreements have been reached with the autonomous city to set up four facilities to accommodate immigrants, and work is now underway to begin transferring minors to the mainland. To circumvent the rejection of the regional governments of PP and Vox, the Spanish government has presented a plan that foresees an initial transfer of 500 children to facilities managed by NGOs. Unfortunately, in this whole affair, the opposition has also not been up to par and has put obstacles in the way of all attempts to alleviate the situation in the autonomous city, leaving its president, Juan Jesús Vivas, in a very difficult situation.

For example, this Tuesday the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has once again insisted on the idea that everyone should be returned, including minors, ignoring what Spanish legislation states in this regard and, above all, the Supreme Court ruling from a year ago that confirmed the conviction for prevarication of the former government delegate in the autonomous city, Salvadora Mateos (PSOE), and the former vice-president of the Ceuta government, Mabel Deu (PP). The reason? The repatriation of 55 unaccompanied minor migrants in 2021 without respecting the procedure, in the context of the last major migratory crisis in Ceuta.

Therefore, which political official, from PP or PSOE, will dare to sign a repatriation order given these precedents? Who will risk being disqualified? Things are not as simple as some politicians want to portray them. A minor who sets foot on Spanish territory automatically comes under the State's guardianship, which has the obligation to safeguard their best interest. This principle cannot, for now, be violated. If the PP and Vox want to change it, they would have to present a legislative modification proposal to Congress, something neither of them has announced at this time.

What must be demanded of the State is that it provide all means to assist the affected individuals and to resolve their legal situation as quickly as possible. Both to return them to their countries of origin and to take charge of them when necessary.