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Date Published: 22/09/2021
ARCHIVED - Ceuta creates working group to legally repatriate underage migrants
The process of returning the children to Morocco was halted in August amid concerns over the legality of the action
The Spanish government has deployed a task force, comprising of representative of several different ministries, to determine how to legally return hundreds of Moroccan minors to their country of origin after some 10,000 irregular migrants surged across the border to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Africa back in May. While 55 youngsters were returned to Morocco in August, the repatriation was halted when a court deemed the practice unlawful.
Despite the fact that Spain has an agreement with Morocco since 2021 to return irregular migrants, the very specific criteria required by law in the case of minors has never actually been followed. In order to repatriate children, the Spanish government is required to find out details about the minor’s family circumstances and any illegal youngsters who don’t wish to return home are entitled to legal representation.
The failure of the government to follow this protocol in August sparked outrage among non-profit organisations (NGOs) and the main role of the new taskforce is to find a way to return between 500 and 700 children and adolescents to Morocco which complies with the law. The repatriation process can be completed within two months if there are no major issues, but experts believe that very few, if any, minors will actually end up being deported.
Ministers have no easy task, with the process demanding resources such as additional prosecutors and judges who will help in the appointment of legal defenders of minors who oppose their return.
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