Minister Marlaska has issued an order to request judicial expulsion for migrants who commit crimes in Ceuta

Fernando Grande Marlaska, Minister of the Interior, has issued a direct and strict order to the State Security Forces and Corps to request judicial authorization for the immediate expulsion of irregular immigrants who are arrested for committing criminal acts in Ceuta. "You also know, and I want to make it very clear, how I have given a very clear order to the forces and corps that those irregular immigrants in Ceuta who are getting involved in criminal acts and are subject to arrest, that judicial authorization for their immediate expulsion be requested, which is permitted by article 57.7 of the Immigration Law," Marlaska confirmed.

He made this clear before holding a telematic meeting with the heads of Civil Protection of the autonomous communities and cities, as well as with officials from the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), in view of the total eclipse this Wednesday, August 12. Although the minister detailed that this kind of incidents are not occurring massively, he confirmed that "a considerable number" of those arrested for participating in disturbances have already been brought before a judge under this scheme to process their departure from the country with prior judicial authorization.

Regarding minor migrants, the minister indicated that more than 400 files corresponding to those young people who have requested international protection are being processed. Along the same lines, when questioned about how these children and adolescents will be returned, he said that it will be carried out through the Immigration Law.

Similarly, he confirmed that all authorities will work within the terms of application of the law. "Evidently, those minors who must be returned will be returned. Those who should not be returned for any circumstance, because there are no authorizations, for example, from the Public Prosecutor's Office, evidently cannot be returned, but we are going to work in terms of returning all those who have entered illegally in terms of compliance with our law and in an effective and as fast a way as possible," he stressed.

Finally, regarding the migrants who have requested asylum, he commented that work is being done from the Asylum and Refuge Office on the ground in Ceuta, as well as the Police. "Whoever has the right to the granting of asylum will have the right to asylum and, evidently, whoever does not have the right to asylum or it is resolved that the circumstances do not concur, then that simply translates that rejection into an irregular stay and expulsion," he concluded.