Spain Relocates Hundreds of Vulnerable Minors From Ceuta To Mainland

Spain is preparing to move roughly 500 unaccompanied minors from its North African enclave of Ceuta back to the mainland. This decision comes after a massive wave of migrants recently crossed the border by land and sea. Officials at the Ministry of Youth and Children told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE on Wednesday that this provisional figure targets the kids considered most vulnerable following the mass crossing on July 30.

Migration Minister Elma Saiz told RNE that these relocated children will enter care provided by child protection organisations located on the mainland. The recent surge pushed Ceuta's system to more than 4,600 percent of its intended capacity, according to the enclave's government. Madrid allocates only ordinary reception capacity for twenty-nine places, yet shelters are currently holding about 1,350 children, RTVE reported.

Under the new relocation plan, officials intend to spread these children across Spain's autonomous regions. They will be placed in foster care or reunited with relatives where possible. Ceuta's government has accepted the transfers as an "extraordinary measure," per Spanish newspaper El Pais, but maintains that deporting everyone who entered irregularly remains a priority objective for them.

Sira Rego, the youth and children minister in Spain's pro-immigration government, firmly rejected talk of deporting these minors. She called such actions outrageous on social media. "Return must be voluntary and accompanied by safeguards," she wrote. The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, has warned that hundreds of kids in Ceuta face insecurity and unsanitary conditions right now.

After tens of thousands crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, the enclave's mayor-president Juan Jesus Vivas said at least 100 died during the attempt. Many perished from drowning or being crushed by a breakwater as they swam to safety. The move to transfer children has drawn sharp criticism from Spain's opposition People's Party.

"Everyone who entered illegally must legally return to Morocco," said PP official Elias Bendodo. His stance included both adults and minors without exception. Far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal also opposed the plan, writing on X that no euro should go to MENAs or human trafficking mafias. Rego accused the People's Party of aligning itself with Vox's racist positions regarding this crisis.