Politics · Spain · 9 hrs ago
Melilla asks Spain to return 330 migrant minors to Morocco
Melilla is caring for 330 migrant minors, four times the stated maximum capacity of its centres.
The autonomous city in Spain has asked the national government to arrange their return to Morocco, saying children should be reunited with their families where possible.
Melilla says the returns should have safeguards and cites a Spain-Morocco agreement signed in 2007.
Its officials say the Spanish government’s delegate in Melilla opposed applying the same approach used in Ceuta, though she is not quoted directly.
Melilla argues that sending children to other parts of Spain is not an easy solution, saying other regions are reluctant to take them.
The city says it will keep pressing for returns, while the dispute over how to handle the children remains unresolved.
Melilla says its protection centres are caring for 330 migrant minors, four times the stated maximum capacity of 84.
The autonomous city has asked Spain’s government to repatriate the minors to Morocco, saying the approach is being used in Ceuta.
Melilla officials say the minors should be reunited with their families, with all necessary safeguards.
Melilla’s vice-president says the government delegate in Melilla opposed applying repatriation procedures at a technical meeting.
The delegate reportedly argued Melilla’s situation was different from Ceuta’s and favoured speeding up transfers of minors to elsewhere in Spain.
- Who
- The government of Melilla is seeking the return of 330 migrant minors to Morocco.
- What
- Melilla has asked Spain’s government to repatriate them, while its officials say the government delegate opposes that approach.
- When
- The request was reported on October 30, 2026. The officials said the disagreement arose at a meeting on Thursday.
- Where
- Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city in North Africa; the proposed destination is Morocco.
- Why
- Melilla says its centres are caring for four times their stated maximum capacity and that family reunification is best for the minors.
Melilla government
Spanish government delegate in Melilla
Repatriation
Melilla government
Melilla wants repatriation to Morocco with safeguards, as it says is happening in Ceuta.
Spanish government delegate in Melilla
According to Melilla’s vice-president, the delegate opposed applying repatriation procedures.
Alternative approach
Melilla government
Melilla says transferring minors to other parts of Spain is difficult and argues family reunification is preferable.
Spanish government delegate in Melilla
According to the vice-president, the delegate wanted Melilla to speed up transfers to the rest of Spain and said the situations in Melilla and Ceuta were different.
Ventura referred to a critical situation on these dates and called for new and significant solutions.
Melilla officials said the government delegate opposed repatriation procedures at a technical meeting about minors.
- Minors in Melilla’s protection centres
- 330
- Stated maximum capacity
- 84
- Requested destination
- Morocco
- Spain-Morocco agreement
- Signed in 2007
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Morocco has been subject to it since 1990
What people are saying
All the tools are in place; only political will is needed
Morocco has asked for the minors to be returned and has even said that the Government of Spain is retaining them
Separating them from their families only for them to end up in a centre or be raised by institutions is not the best model