Suicide Attempts and Mass Escapes Reported at Minors' Migrant Center in Madrid. The La Cantueña center near Madrid has recorded suicide attempts, mass escapes, and dozens of conflicts over the past year. Most of the teenagers come from Asian and African countries. Authorities have stepped up security and acknowledged adaptation challenges.
At the La Cantueña center in Fuenlabrada, which opened for unaccompanied minor migrants, the first full year of operation recorded two suicide attempts, mass escapes, and dozens of incidents involving aggression. According to the official report for 2025, 66 teenagers left the institution either on their own initiative or due to lack of resources, and their subsequent fate is unknown. Most of the residents came from Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan, Morocco, and other countries in Asia and Africa.
Psychological difficulties and conflicts
According to the report, among the hundreds of children and adolescents who passed through La Cantueña, two cases of post-traumatic stress disorder, four episodes of severe anxiety, and ten instances of aggressive behavior were identified. The center's management points out that many residents face serious psychological consequences even before arriving in Spain. Regional authorities have acknowledged the need to strengthen mental health support and adaptation for adolescents.
Escapes and security issues
The report pays particular attention to 66 minors who left the center either on their own or due to a lack of support. All of them are boys aged between 10 and 18. Their whereabouts and living conditions after leaving are unknown. The document emphasizes that the statistics do not reflect the full extent of the problems related to the integration and safety of these children.
Incidents and increased security
In 2025, a major brawl broke out in the dining hall of La Cantueña, with chairs and fire extinguishers being thrown. The situation required intervention from the National Police: 12 teenagers were detained, seven staff members and two children were injured. Following the incident, regional authorities urgently increased the number of 24-hour security posts from three to five, spending more than 60,000 euros. Over the past year, the center has recorded 439 incidents posing a threat to the life and health of both staff and children.
Assessments and integration challenges
Despite the difficult environment, 90% of the children received educational certificates, and 85% gave positive feedback on the staff's work. However, only 71% of teenagers expressed satisfaction with living conditions. The report notes that the reward system is not always effective for children with difficult behavior, and the loss of privileges often leads to prolonged demotivation. The main complaints include overcrowding, communication difficulties, and everyday problems.
Violations and attempts at reintegration
Almost 29% of minors reported feeling unsafe due to conflicts and thefts. 3.8% were involved in serious violations of the educational process, while 7.3% committed particularly severe offenses that disrupted communal living. In September, two teenagers were detained for assaulting a staff member. The authorities have repeatedly appealed to the Spanish government to reunite the children with their families back home, but so far without result—106 such requests have been made to date.
Living conditions and prospects
La Cantueña opened at the end of 2024, when the building was not yet fully prepared: it lacked showers and beds. The report for 2025 now notes that none of the residents have been placed with Spanish families. The average stay at the center is less than a month. According to EL PAÍS, these circumstances hinder the integration of teenagers and affect their future as adults.
Issues of adaptation and safety for underage migrants remain pressing for Madrid. Authorities continue to seek solutions, but the situation at La Cantueña reflects the broader challenges of the system. For comparison, Spain has previously debated large-scale changes in migration policy, when a mass legalization of foreign workers in the agricultural sector began.
