The Brutal Reality of the MENA Arriving in the Balearic Islands in January

Illegal immigration continues to be a hot topic. In an intervention on the program 4Directe, Guillermo Sánchez, president of the Instituto Mallorquín de Asuntos Sociales (IMAS), revealed something shocking. According to La Gaceta, he explained that, during January, all the illegal immigrants who arrived by boat in the Balearic Islands, identified as unjoined minors, were actually adults after undergoing the corresponding examinations.

These tests, which were not previously conducted systematically, have clarified the true age of the immigrants. It demonstrated that none of the cases involved a minor. In total, 20 cases have been detected in the first month of this year, according to the mentioned media outlet.

Sánchez has assured in his intervention that "it is essential to avoid the coexistence of adults with minors in the reception centers." According to him, "this could generate risks."

During the interview, the head of IMAS expressed his concern about the lack of resources in the reception system. According to the media, he pointed out that they are currently operating at double the recommended capacity. In this context, he showed his support for the stance of Marga Prohens's government.

He assured that the Balearic Islands will not accept young immigrants from other autonomous communities within the distribution agreed upon by Sánchez's government with the Canary Islands.

He also recalled that the cost of maintaining each unjoined minor amounts to 239 euros per day. This further increases the pressure on the reception system in the islands.

The Brutal Arrival in the Canary Islands in Three Days

Since last Monday, the numbers of illegal arrivals in the Canary Islands have been truly overwhelming. Nearly 1,300 illegal immigrants have arrived on the islands in just three days, leading to the activation of 20 naval deployments, in addition to aerial interventions.

La Gaceta confirms this, stating that the majority of immigrants who have reached the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have departed from Tan-Tan and Tarfaya (Morocco). The lack of control in these areas has facilitated traffickers in organizing the departure of numerous inflatable boats to the islands. With a total of 475 immigrants landing in Lanzarote and 60 in Fuerteventura.

According to the media, La Güera, an area near Nouadhibou, has become the main departure point for the cayucos. This is despite many illegal immigrants claiming to have left from Mauritania. The lack of action by Moroccan authorities in this region has been seen in Spain as a gesture of indifference.