The increase, in recent months, in the arrival of unaccompanied migrant minors to Catalonia has forced the General Directorate of Child and Adolescent Care (DGAIA) to launch new reception places on a daily basis, mainly in small equipment and flats. The general secretary of the Department of Social Rights, Oriol Amorós, indicates that at the moment “it is easier to open a home than a center” due to the refusal of many municipalities to host this type of facilities. The increase in young people mainly from Morocco, Gambia and Senegal has once again strained the system, as happened in 2018, when the record number of 3,709 people was reached. The DGAIA had never recorded figures as high as those of 2024 in the months of January and February, specifically 364 and 300 foreign minors.
If this trend, driven by the political and economic crisis in Senegal and violence and hunger in other African countries, continues, Amorós expects that around 4,000 young people under 18 years of age will complete their migratory route in Catalonia by 2024.
The general secretary points out that close to 60% of the total new arrivals to Catalonia come from the Canary Islands; In this sense, he demands that the state government promote a “solidarity distribution” between the different autonomous communities, understanding that Catalonia assumes greater weight. “In addition, we are the only ones who extend protection beyond age 18, until age 21,” he adds.
The statistics published by the Ministry of the Interior indicate that in January and February a total of 14,035 immigrants entered Spain irregularly by sea and land, 356.6% more than during the same period in 2023. This pronounced increase responds to arrivals to the Canary Islands, 11,932, 540% more. It is worth remembering that the Canary Islands Executive has asked the Spanish Government to urgently convene the Conference of Presidents to address the legal modification that allows the distribution of unaccompanied minors to other communities. Currently, there are more than 5,400 young people who have not turned 18 years of age who have landed on the islands without any family members in their care.
“The State must order this flow of migrants, it is everyone’s responsibility,” insists Amorós, emphasizing that the final destination of many is Barcelona.
Of the 664 that Catalonia welcomed in January and February, the DGAIA specifies that the majority, 367, come from sub-Saharan countries, and secondly from Morocco, 229. Last month, the DGAIA opened ten new centers, including housing which accommodate small groups accompanied by a social worker “so that they can lead as discreet a life as possible.” “Every day we solve the shortage of places, every day we activate new ones,” adds Amorós. Many have turned 17 and have little time to work on their autonomy.
This significant increase forces us to be more agile to prevent minors from spending any night in Mossos d’Esquadra police stations until they are transferred to some facility. Since last the 14th, 102 young people have entered the Immediate Attention Facility (DAI) from police stations. The DGAIA points out that since the same date, 13 boys “without documentation and with the appearance of being older” have been referred to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office to determine their age, concluding that twelve of them had turned 18 years old.
“We are facing a structural phenomenon that will get worse, which is why part of the migration must be done in an orderly and regular manner,” concludes Amorós.