Minister Sira Rego estimates at 2,000 the number of migrant minors remaining in Ceuta and criticizes Morocco for its lack of response

The Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, this Friday increased pressure on Morocco for its management of the unaccompanied migrant minors who are in the territory after the massive entry.

In this context, Rego has denounced Rabat's lack of collaboration in facilitating their return to their families. She has also confirmed the transfer of the first five girls from Ceuta to Navarra, where they will be taken in. 

Along these lines, Rego explained that the lack of a Moroccan response had already occurred before the massive entry at the end of July. "I have the anecdote of a child who wanted to return to his family, I am talking about before July 30, the family wanted to take in their child and it was not possible due to Morocco's lack of response and lack of action," the minister commented.

On the other hand, Sira Rego added that the Public Prosecutor's Office maintains around 600 open files corresponding to processes prior to the massive arrival of minors and has assured that Morocco "does not respond." Her statements come after the Moroccan Government publicly questioned the Spanish Executive for not returning unaccompanied minors or expelling migrants who irregularly entered Ceuta.

Rego also warned that the resolution of these files is not immediate. As she explained, the procedure can last "at least months" and the times depend both on the prior documentation and, especially, on the collaboration of the country of origin.

In this regard, she defended that minors be transferred to the peninsula while the files are processed. The minister argued that Ceuta has limited space and is "very strained," while the procedures can continue in any peninsular autonomous community with the same legal guarantees.

Currently, according to data provided by Rego, about 2,000 unaccompanied foreign minors remain in Ceuta.

Five girls will be taken in Navarra

The minister also did not specify how many minors could finally return to Morocco with their families, although she pointed out that it is a "minority" group. Rego explained that not all of them have a family structure to return to and focused especially on the situation of girls.

"The family structure does not always exist, there is not always a return family, and in the case of girls, we are seeing that they flee from terrible situations, from forced marriages," she stated.

Precisely, the first transfer of five minors to Navarra represents, according to Rego, a step forward in decongesting the autonomous city. The transfer will take place under an agreement between communities, and the minister has defended that it be done as quickly as possible to protect both the rights of the girls and to relieve pressure on Ceuta. "This is very good news because now it is about finding a formula for these transfers to be made with the utmost diligence, and this is in the interest of the girls, to preserve their rights, but also for the people of Ceuta," concluded Minister Sira Rego.