The PP already puts spokes in the wheels for the distribution of migrant minors in Ceuta

MadridThe PP is already putting obstacles in the way of the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors in Ceuta. In the technical meeting with the Ministry of Childhood and Youth held this Thursday, it was agreed that the sectoral conference on childhood and adolescence to address this distribution among the autonomous communities would be held on August 27, but the Popular Party has refused to include in the agenda of this upcoming meeting an informative and debate point on, precisely, the care of these minors and their situation in Ceuta, according to ministry sources. Instead, the approval of the extraordinary credit of 25 million euros to expand resources for the care of minors would be voted on.

In any case, from the ministry led by Sira Rego, they have explained that on August 27, the minister herself, as president of the conference, will propose the inclusion of this item at the meeting – to talk about the situation of unaccompanied minors in the autonomous city – and it will be voted on. Does this mean that a distribution will now take place? No. In fact, there is not yet an official definitive figure for the unaccompanied migrant minors in Ceuta who entered swimming from Morocco two weeks ago. "The registration process continues and it is a constant trickle of identifications," the minister acknowledged a few days ago.

For now, there are 1,898 minors registered with the National Police, as revealed this Thursday by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, but the trickle of identifications continues. Furthermore, entities in the city recall that there are still many minors housed in improvised spaces by neighbors themselves, especially those in peripheral neighborhoods like El Príncipe or La Reina, as well as minors on the street. Among all minors, the Spanish government will prioritize family reunification (on August 16, a technical team from the ministry will be installed in Ceuta to speed up procedures). Children who cannot be reunited with family in their country of origin will be placed under the guardianship of the public administration.

Equilibria in the PP

"It is incomprehensible that the [Spanish] government does not yet know how many minors there are in Ceuta, what their situation is, and how many are unattended," criticize PP sources. At the same time, the Popular Party insists that priority must be given to the return of minors with their families – they demand the launch of "legal and diplomatic mechanisms" with the countries of origin – and say they went to the meeting to be able to vote in favor of the 25 million euros to "support Ceuta".

But this cautious attitude of the PP with the distribution is not new. A few days ago, it left the acceptance up in the air, but it lowered its tone in the face of the cry for help from the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas (PP). Furthermore, the latest reform of the Foreigners Law made the distribution and relocation of unaccompanied minor migrants mandatory among the autonomous communities in cases of "extraordinary migratory contingency", as is happening in Ceuta.

To all this is added the balance that must be struck with Vox. At Thursday's meeting, the general directorates of Childhood that are in the hands of the far-right after the regional pacts with the PP – in Extremadura, Aragon, and Castile and León – did not attend. The Popular Party, on the other hand, did: in Andalusia, where there is also a coalition with Vox, and in the other seven territories where they govern alone.

6,354 unaccompanied minors in Catalonia

Regarding Catalonia, the Secretary of Childhood and Adolescence, Teresa Llorens, has attended. The Generalitat has offered to cooperate, but has also requested that "the effort that Catalonia assumes in the reception of unaccompanied migrant minors be taken into account". From the secretariat of childhood, it has been recalled that minors arrive in the Principality through solidarity distribution mechanisms to alleviate the burden on the Canary Islands or African locations, but also on their own initiative. Currently, the Generalitat houses 6,354 lone migrant minors in centers, of whom 95% are boys and 42% come from Morocco, reports Marta Rodríguez.

In this regard, Junts, like the PP and Vox, also went to war. The party's spokesperson in Congress, Miriam Nogueras, recalled that her party had already voted once against Catalonia being part of the latest distribution of migrant minors from the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla. Nogueras stated that it was an "abuse" by the Spanish government, which "did not provide resources" and "further strained" the Catalan protection system.

Robles will not go to the Senate

However, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, is postponing her appearance in the Senate until after the summer. The Popular Party, which has a majority in the Senate, had summoned her, as well as the Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, but the Spanish government rejected this, alleging that they would provide explanations later in Congress. The PP assured that, unlike her government colleagues, Robles did accept appearing in the upper house next Tuesday, August 18. Finally, the minister argued in a letter sent to the PP that she needs "more time to prepare it." The President of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, will travel to Ceuta this Friday.