Spain moves to relocate 500 migrant girls from Ceuta amid regional refusal
The Spanish government is preparing an urgent transfer of about 500 unaccompanied migrant girls from Ceuta to the mainland, while several autonomous regions decline to receive them and the EU backs their return to Morocco.
Spain's Ministry for Youth and Children said it is preparing an urgent transfer of roughly 500 migrant girls who arrived in Ceuta during the July 30-31 influx. The plan, to be enacted through a royal decree-law, would require all autonomous communities to provide compulsory, solidarity-based reception or family placement, and includes mechanisms to accelerate the process. Child-protection organisations may also be tasked with caring for the most vulnerable cases in specialised facilities on the mainland, without shifting guardianship to regional authorities.
Several autonomous communities have already refused to take in the unaccompanied minors, prompting the central government to criticize a perceived lack of solidarity. Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz told RNE that the matter is being handled jointly by Ceuta, the Department for Children and the regions, emphasizing the need to "protect the best interests of the child" and noting that the girls are being kept in safe spaces to prevent sexual violence. Saiz said the government has allocated €25 million to Ceuta for the response.
The National Police reported that 2,168 minors had been identified and handed over to Ceuta authorities by 18 August. Meanwhile, the European Commission expressed support for returning the unaccompanied minors to Morocco, stating that the priority is for Spanish and Moroccan authorities to maintain control and ensure swift returns in line with EU return legislation.