The possible distribution of migrant minors from Ceuta puts the right wing on a war footing

MadridThe Spanish government plans to activate all available mechanisms to respond to unaccompanied migrant minors who entered Ceuta from Morocco by swimming and are currently in the autonomous city. The Ceuta executive estimates there are "a thousand": "We cannot give an exact figure because the process of locating [the minors] and integrating them into the protection system is still ongoing," indicated the spokesperson for the local government of Ceuta, Alejandro Ramírez, this Tuesday at a press conference. Among these mechanisms is the distribution of unaccompanied children and adolescents among the autonomous communities, as pointed out by the spokesperson for the Spanish government, Elma Saiz, and confirmed by sources from the Ministry of Childhood led by Sira Rego. However, this approach has already put the right wing on alert.

"Among these mechanisms is the full implementation of Article 35 of the immigration law, reformed in 2025, which provides for, among other things, the binding and solidarity-based reception [of migrant minors] by the rest of the autonomous communities," indicate sources from Sira Rego's ministry, who plans to travel to Ceuta in the coming days. This department recalls that even before the crisis of recent days, Ceuta was in a situation "of extraordinary migratory contingency." "I appeal to the responsibility of all autonomous communities to provide care for migrant minors," Saiz said in a statement to the media, just after announcing an extraordinary allocation of 25 million euros for Ceuta to expand resources for these minors.

The PP's balancing act

For now, the PP, which governs in practically all autonomous communities, has already left open the possibility that its communities will support this reception, although it has not ruled it out either. It should be remembered that the government of Ceuta, under the baton of Juan Jesús Vivas, is from the PP and it was Vivas himself who warned that the situation is dramatic. "The situation is complicated and the resources are overwhelmed," insisted his government's spokesperson.

When asked by the press about whether the territories where the PP governs will welcome minors, the party's secretary general, Miguel Tellado, limited himself to replying that "it is not a migratory crisis, it is a national security crisis." "These are different issues," he stated, and left it to the Spanish government to find a solution: "It is its responsibility to ensure that [the migrants] return from where they came in," Tellado said this Tuesday. The president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, also referred to it. "It is strange that the left does not ask us for an extraordinary plenary session to know how many illegal immigrants [Pedro] Sánchez will send us without consulting us," Ayuso asserted via X."This is indeed worrying. It costs us money, public services, coexistence, and security. It is inhumane," Ayuso sentenced.

Junts rejects any distribution

But the PP has not been the only party to question this option. The spokesperson for Junts in Congress, Miriam Nogueras, recalled that her party had already voted once against Catalonia being part of the last distribution of migrant minors from the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. "As we already achieved in the distribution that took place a year ago [...] Junts does not give a single vote if Catalonia is not left out," Nogueras stated via X. Nogueras stated that it was an "abuse" by the Spanish government, which "did not provide resources" and "further strained" the Catalan protection system.

In April 2025, Congress validated the reform that made the distribution and relocation of unaccompanied minor migrants mandatory among the autonomous communities in cases of "extraordinary migratory contingency." That is, when certain territories are highly strained, which often happens in Ceuta, Melilla, or the Canary Islands. This 2026, the regulation that establishes the mandatory nature was extended for another year, so the measure is in effect until August 2027.

One year before its approval, the PP, Vox, and Junts voted against it. The support of Carles Puigdemont's party did not come until after an agreement with the PSOE to delegate some state powers in immigration to the Generalitat, but also after the socialists accepted Junts' condition: that Catalonia be excluded from the distribution and, in any case, be compensated with the necessary resources – the Junts members claimed that the Principality was already at its limit. Afterwards, the government of Salvador Illa voluntarily offered to host them. However, the agreement between the Spanish government and the separatists generated unease in the other autonomous communities, including the socialist ones. Neither was the Basque Country part of that distribution because, as the central executive explained, its resources were at their limit.

A few months ago, the Popular Party put Minister Sira Rego on the spot at the sectoral conference where a new distribution was to be discussed.

Healthcare collapse

While Ceuta continues searching for the missing and hurries to identify the mortal victims found so far, which makes it clear that this is the most tragic crisis on the southern border since records began, one of the most urgent challenges is the reception of 862 migrant minors, according to the latest official figures from the Interior Ministry. All of them are waiting to be relocated due to the collapse of the care centers in Ceuta. In fact, the Ministry of Childhood has ordered the executive of the autonomous city to open two schools to house these children and young people.