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Denver – Spanish officials in the city of Ceuta received over 1,600 asylum applications from irregular migrants, including twenty minors, the city’s Spanish government delegate, Salvadora Mateos, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
The Moroccan migrants have been in the city since a rush over the border entrance in late May resulted in over 10,000 individuals sweeping into the enclave.
According to Mateos, 600 of the asylum applicants have been relocated to mainland Spain, due to Spanish laws allowing for free movement through the country during the application process. The move also helped to relieve Ceuta officials, who have been stretched thin in their efforts to accommodate the migrants.
Despite continued tensions between Madrid and Spain, last month the two governments were reportedly working on plans to repatriate a large number of unaccompanied Moroccan youth currently residing in Ceuta.
The repatriation efforts came after numerous human rights advocates accused Spanish authorities of illegal deportation and mistreatment of unaccompanied minors. Spanish officials have since reached out to NGOs to assist in the repatriation process.
Migratory issues in both Ceuta and Melilla have continued to frustrate authorities in the cities, who have had to deal with a near-constant influx of migrants, with minimal help from officials in Madrid.
The problem has been further exacerbated by the shut-off of communication between Morocco and Spain. Before the diplomatic dispute, Spain regarded Morocco as a key partner and its first line of defense in curbing irregular migratory flow into the country.
