Spain Begins Deportation of Moroccan Migrants Amid Surge in Canary Islands Arrivals

Thus, the Spanish Minister of the Interior has proceeded to organize the return of 20 illegal Moroccan migrants by air to Laâyoune, wishing that the objective of doubling the flights with more than 50 immigrants per week be achieved. With the increase in immigrants in the Canary Islands, the number of which is "10 times higher than last year", and consisting of adult men, but also minors, the Spanish Minister of the Interior went to Rabat on November 20 last, to find favorable solutions to the situation.

Nearly 7,000 immigrants in the Canary Islands, most of whom are Moroccans and do not meet the necessary conditions to enter the reception system, were hoping for the results of the Moroccan-Spanish summit. But it, initially scheduled for this week, has been postponed to February 2021.

Furthermore, the European Union has been supporting Morocco since 2018 in the fight against illegal migration, with financial and technical assistance, which is justified by a "shared responsibility between partners facing common challenges and threats," said the Minister of the Interior.

However, Reuters points out that Morocco has rejected an EU request to host third-country nationals entering Europe via the Kingdom, as Morocco repatriates an average of 15,000 of its own citizens sent back to it by the EU each year, said Khalid Zerouali, Wali-Director of Migration and Border Surveillance at the Ministry of the Interior, stressing that this year Morocco has prevented 32,000 people from crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.