The system for receiving underage migrants in the Canary Islands has come under close scrutiny following a series of scandals related to living conditions and the treatment of children. Internal correspondence between the department of child affairs management and staff revealed that the prosecutor’s office is failing to fulfill its oversight duties regarding shelters, despite complaints about violations and abuse.
In a letter sent at the end of April, the director of the department of child affairs pointed out that thanks to the prosecutor’s office’s loyalty, it has been possible to keep 86 shelters open, even though conditions in some of them are far from acceptable. This issue has become especially relevant against the backdrop of an investigation into the largest organization on the islands for receiving underage migrants, Quorum 77, whose staff are suspected of abuse, threats, and other offenses.
In recent weeks, former workers and residents of the shelters have increasingly spoken out about cases of violence and negligence. According to them, oversight of these institutions is virtually nonexistent, and the system cannot cope with the influx of new children. Since 2023, the Canary Islands have been under a state of emergency, allowing authorities to rapidly open new centers with minimal requirements for living conditions and staffing.
Regional authorities admit they cannot provide children with an adequate level of protection and care. The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has repeatedly emphasized that the system is overloaded, and efforts to transfer some minors to mainland Spain are facing difficulties.
Despite being aware of numerous complaints, the prosecutor’s office did not increase oversight of the shelters. According to internal protocols, inspections must be carried out at least once a quarter and without prior notice. However, in 2024, only 100 of the 340 required inspections were conducted, and in 2023—only a quarter of the required number. Moreover, most inspections took place with advance notice, allowing organizations to prepare and conceal possible violations.
The prosecutor’s office explains the reduction in inspections by claiming it does not consider these facilities to be emergency shelters, and therefore inspections can be conducted less frequently and with notice. Nonetheless, even with this approach, the actual number of inspections remains below the established standard.
The investigation into Quorum 77 has led to the closure of two shelters and the arrest of 11 employees, including the organization’s director. The investigation is ongoing, and testimony from former staff points to systemic violations, including isolating teenagers for extended periods in separate rooms.
Questions remain for the regional authorities and the prosecutor’s office: why, despite years of complaints, was oversight not increased and conditions for children not improved? Overcrowding in shelters, staff shortages, and the lack of effective supervision pose risks to the safety and well-being of over 5,000 underage migrants currently on the Canary Islands.
Authorities emphasize that they cooperate with non-profit organizations, but they also acknowledge that they cannot relinquish oversight of their activities. The situation calls for urgent changes to ensure migrant children have decent conditions and their rights are protected.
