A new round of dispute is unfolding in Spain between the central government and the Canary Islands over the fate of underage foreign asylum seekers. The country’s Supreme Court has set strict conditions for the government: within two weeks, it must complete the process of admitting these children who are currently on the archipelago.
Earlier in the spring, the court had already ordered Madrid to take responsibility for housing and protecting around one thousand unaccompanied minors who arrived in the Canaries. However, more than half a year later, regional authorities have raised the alarm once again—according to them, the relocation is progressing too slowly, and the burden on local services remains excessive.
This is the third time the court has reminded the government of the need to comply with its order. In March, officials were given ten days to organize the admission of the children, but the deadline was missed. Now, the judges are openly showing their frustration: they believe the situation has gone too far and are demanding immediate compliance with the ruling, without any excuses.
The first transfers of minors to mainland Spain began in August, but by the end of October only 191 children had been relocated from the islands. Nearly nine hundred others remain under the care of regional authorities. The Canary Islands’ officials insist they cannot manage such an influx on their own and are waiting for real action from Madrid.
The issue of allocating responsibility for refugee children has become one of the most contentious topics between the central government and the autonomous regions. Judicial pressure on the government is mounting, and it now has just 15 days to resolve the situation. Otherwise, new legal and political consequences may arise, affecting not only the Canary Islands but the entire migrant reception system in Spain.
