The figure of illegal immigrants that entered Spain in 2023, a 82.1% compared to 2022 due to the influx without origin registered in the Canary Islands, according to figures published today by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior.
Total 56,852 irregular immigrants They arrived in Spain in 2023, 25,633 more than last year, but below the 64,298 in 2018.
Why immigrants choose Spain
Spain It is one of the big three European gateways for immigration, along with Italy and Greece.
Last year’s jump was mainly due to record arrivals at Canary Islands, which experienced its greatest migration crisis. Thus, a total of 39,910 immigrants disembark in 2023 on these islands in the Atlantic Ocean located off the northwest coast of Africa, 154.5% more than in 2022.
According to himEuropean border and coast guard agency Frontexthe immigrants who arrive to the Canary Islands come mainly from Morocco and Senegal.
The path of immigrants
The migratory route towards the Canary archipelago, which has gained popularity in recent years due to the tightening of the controls in the Mediterranean Seais extremely dangerous.
According to NGO Walking Borderswhich receives distress calls on the high seas from migrants or their families, more than 7,800 emigrants died between 2018 and 2022 trying to reach the archipelago from the African coast, reported the AFP news agency.
Regarding arrivals to Spain through the Mediterranean, from Morocco or Algeria, increased by 19.1% in relation to 2022, up to 15,435 people.
On the contrary, the irregular immigrants Those arriving in the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla were 1,234, 46% less than in 2022.
The path of irregular immigrants
On the contrary, the irregular immigrants arrived in the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla There were 1,234, 46% less than in 2022. These cities surrounded by Moroccan territory constitute the only land borders of the European Union with Africa.
This fall, starting in 2022, coincides with the normalization of diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco, Madrid’s key partner in the fight against illegal immigration.
The Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez
In this context, the president of the Spanish Government, the socialist Pedro Sanchez, concluded the agreement reached by the Member States of the European Union (EU) at the end of December to review the European migration and asylum system, which he described as “fundamental” for Spain.
According to Frontexthe number of illegal immigrants who arrived in Spain remains almost three times lower than that of Italy, the main gateway to the EU.
Data from the Ministry of the Interior
After knowing these data, fsources of the Ministry of the Interior They recalled that in just two months, between October 18 and December 18, 2023, the deployment of the Civil Guard in Senegal, in collaboration with the Senegalese security forces, intercepted more than 7,200 people and 59 boats towards the Canary Islands, which means that “almost 50% of the migratory pressure out of these two countries has been stopped at origin.”
From the Ministry that directs Fernando Grande-Marlaska They defend that migration “It is a phenomenon of enormous complexity that is influenced by numerous factors” and they highlight that migratory pressure “will continue to exist” at all the EU’s external borders, as is also observed in Italy, Greece and Cyprus, the Europa Press news agency reported.
The economic, social and political instability of why people migrate
The political and social instability in many areas of Africathe exponential increase in the population and the lack of resources are structural elements that, according to Interior, “They are not solved overnight“.
To deal with this situation, emphasize that Spain has been promoting a migration policy for five years based on bilateral cooperation with the countries of origin and transit of migration in the fight against mafias that traffic in people, an action that, according to the Ministry, “is working and prevents 40% of irregular departures at origin” .
European Migration Pact
Likewise, the Ministry valued the recent European Migration Pact signed under the Spanish presidency of the European Union, which “builds a better Europe, stronger and more supportive”, which gives instruments to the EU to promote safe, orderly and regular migration.
The pact incorporates, explicitly and for the first time, mandatory formulas of solidarity with the States of first entry of migrationlike Spain, those most affected by migratory pressure at the EU’s external borders.
Source: Ambito
