Rabat – Five NGOs in charge of assisting unaccompanied foreign minors criticized Spain’s Civil Guard of Ceuta for expelling two minors aged 15 and 16 to Morocco.
El Pais reports that the civil guard deported the Moroccan minors on November 28. They were part of the mass of migrants who entered the enclave of Ceuta from Fnideq in northern Morocco.
In response, five NGOs consider the case “particularly serious” as it is not in line with the procedure established by law to return immigrant minors to their country.
The NGOs established that the two expelled minors were part of a group of 12 boys whose repatriation was suspended by a Ceuta court in mid-August.
The appeal also recalled that the government delegation and the Ministry of Interior launched the repatriations of minors without following legal protocol.
About 55 minors were repatriated to Morocco. In response, the NGOs believe that such action is illegal.
El Pais quoted president of Foundacion Aices KLourdes Reyzabal who said that what happened was “extremely serious.”
“Once again, our governments fail to comply with the procedure established by Spanish legislation for the repatriation of foreign minors,” the activist said.
El Pais said the Interior Ministry is investigating the case. The NGOs said that the two deported minors along with one other “friend” were in the water trying to reach Spain through a Transmediterranea boat.
The minors were returned to Morocco against their will.
EFE reported today that the Ceuta Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the expulsion of the two Moroccan minors.
