Spain to dismantle Ceuta migrant shelters
About 13,000 people have returned to Morocco following a migration crisis.
Spain plans to dismantle temporary migrant shelters in Ceuta as approximately 13,000 people have returned to Morocco, according to Spanish Migration Minister Elma Saiz on Monday. The government aims to remove these facilities quickly, viewing it as a sign of normalcy returning to Ceuta after months of strain on its reception system. Spain had increased Ceuta's reception capacity from 500 to 7,500 places during the crisis.
Minister Saiz stated that the dismantling is proceeding because migrants have already gone back to Morocco, eliminating the need for further administrative processing. She defended the government's actions, asserting they followed both legal and humanitarian principles throughout the crisis. This move occurs amidst criticism regarding the treatment of migrant minors in Ceuta, with reports of children being left outdoors and allegations of pepper spray use.
The Spanish government has not provided a specific date for the complete dismantling of the remaining facilities. Saiz indicated the process will continue as the demand for temporary accommodation decreases. The emergency phase in Ceuta is considered to be ending with the scaling back of these accommodations.
Why it mattersMoroccan citizens who were part of a large migration into Spain's Ceuta enclave are now returning home.