Castilla y León sees a "failure" of the Government in Ceuta and warns against the distribution of minors: "We will go to Justice"

The Junta de Castilla y León has opened the door this Thursday to go to court if the Government transfers part of the 500 migrant girls who remain in Ceuta to the Community. Its spokesperson, Carlos Fernández Carriedo, has warned that the autonomous Executive will oppose any measure that harms its interests or affects its powers.

Carriedo has described the Government's management of border control as a "failure" after the massive entry of migrants registered in Ceuta. The also Minister of Economy and Finance believes that the situation affects national security and must be resolved by the central Administration.

"The Government cannot dilute the problem throughout Spain," he said during the press conference after the Governing Council. The Junta rejects that the response consists of distributing among the communities the consequences of a crisis that it directly links to border protection.

The warning comes as the Ministry of Youth and Childhood works with the Ceuta authorities on an urgent plan to transfer about 500 girls considered especially vulnerable to the Peninsula. Details about their destinations, the reception system, and the Administration that will maintain guardianship are still pending specification.

A judicial path yet to be defined

Castilla y León will study the definitive mechanism before deciding which appeal to file. Carriedo explained that the Legal Services will examine whether an Administration can retain guardianship of minors who are physically in the territory of another over which it has no jurisdiction.

The Junta has not yet identified a specific resolution to appeal against. Its action will depend on how the Government articulates the transfers and the responsibilities it assigns to each community.

The general reception system was modified by Royal Decree-Law 2/2025, of March 18, which incorporated into the Immigration Law a mechanism to refer unaccompanied foreign minors when a territory far exceeds its ordinary capacity. This capacity has been updated for 2026 by Royal Decree 556/2026, of June 30.

The plan for the 500 girls from Ceuta could follow another formula in certain cases. The Government is studying a model similar to that used with minor asylum seekers from the Canary Islands, whose care falls under the state international protection system.

The Supreme Court ordered the Government in June 2025 to adopt urgent measures to take charge of more than a thousand minors who had requested international protection in the Canary Islands. The formula chosen for Ceuta will determine which Administration assumes the reception and what margin the autonomous communities will have to appeal.

Carriedo has defended that the position of Castilla y León is "common" within the regional government of PP and the far-right Vox and consistent with their legislative agreement. He also recalled that the Junta already went to court during the previous mandate, when the PP governed alone, against migratory decisions that it considered detrimental to the Community.

The return of minors requires guarantees

The spokesperson has demanded that the Government guarantee the return to their countries of people who entered irregularly and that it follow the line set by the European Union. Brussels maintains its expectation of effective returns, although the situation of minors has specific protection.

Article 10 of the European Return Directive requires individual study of each case. Before expelling an unaccompanied minor, authorities must verify that they will be handed over to a family member, a guardian, or an appropriate reception center in the country of destination.

From the PSOE of Castilla y León, its general secretary, Carlos Martínez, has asked the Junta to strictly comply with Spanish legislation and international law. He has also accused the regional Executive of following the position set by Génova and Vox.

The Junta will now wait to know the Government's definitive plan for the 500 girls. "When we believe that the interests of Castilla y León are harmed, we will file appeals before Justice," Carriedo warned.