Congress validates the distribution of 4,000 migrant minors from the Canary Islands with the vote of Junts

MadridThe Congress of Deputies on Thursday ratified the decree law that the Spanish government approved three weeks ago for the distribution of migrant minors who are overwhelming the services in the Canary Islands and Ceuta. The Spanish government agreed on certain criteria with Junts in exchange for its favorable vote, the only one still pending to approve the legislation, given that the PP is locked in a band. Carles Puigdemont's party voted in favor. The royal decree, which has been in force since its approval by the Council of Ministers, gave the regions a deadline to provide data on reception capacity. Some have provided "incomplete" information, according to the Ministry of Children and Youth, such as Madrid and Extremadura, while others have not provided any at all. All of them are governed by the conservative party.

At that time, Junts estimated that a Thirty young people were from Catalonia and about 700 from Madrid, taking into account the criteria established in the new regulations. In total, there are approximately 4,000 people in the Canary Islands and approximately 400 in Ceuta awaiting relocation, but the ministry anticipates that the figure may be lower for two reasons: one, because some will have turned 18, and others because they may be asylum seekers and, due to their roots, could remain in the Canary Islands. The Spanish government will send the distribution proposal to the autonomous communities at an upcoming sectoral conference on children and adolescents on April 28. The transfers will not take place until the summer, as the goal is to prioritize ensuring that they can complete the school year wherever they are and that the reception systems are prepared.

While waiting for the final figures, the ministry expects the distribution to be around what was announced three weeks ago. In Catalonia, it was allocated 30 because, among other reasons, there are already many children in foster care. Privately, ministry sources admit that services in Catalonia and the Basque Country are also "saturated." In fact, the Generalitat (Catalan government) is caring for approximately 2,200 migrant minors, which is almost the same number as the total number of children who have passed through the Community of Madrid throughout 2024—around 2,400.

The "belligerence" of the PP

"It's surprising. The autonomous communities are required to cooperate," denounced Minister Sira Rego, referring to the PP's "belligerence." In fact, six communities governed by the PP have challenged the decree before the Constitutional Court. The Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, wondered what "the alternative" is being proposed by the right, which he accused, along with Vox, of sending a "racist" message to the migrant minors arriving on Spanish shores. However, the Spanish government expects the PP-led communities to comply with the law once the distribution must be carried out. If they refuse, the administrative court process could be activated.

In parallel, this Thursday was the deadline for the Spanish government to respond to the Supreme Court on how it will implement the ruling issued a few days ago, which requires it to take care of a thousand minor asylum seekersTorres confirmed that the Spanish government will respond today and accept the ruling. He will use the opportunity to inform the Spanish Supreme Court that the new decree provides a solution not only for asylum seekers, but for all migrant minors.