Rabat – Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares will travel to Ceuta on Tuesday alongside Defense Minister Margarita Robles and other government officials, as Madrid steps up its response to the latest migration crisis in the Spanish enclave.
According to El Faro, the visit follows a coordination meeting held Monday by Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory Minister Ángel Víctor Torres with Ceuta President Juan Vivas and Government Delegate Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano.
The meeting focused on the pressure placed on the enclave after the latest surge in arrivals, with the situation of minors emerging as the most immediate concern.
More than 1,400 minors have already been registered by Spain’s National Police in Ceuta, while authorities believe the actual number is higher. Officials have made the registration of all minors a priority before any decision on family reunification can move forward.
Torres said the government has also reinforced security personnel in Ceuta, with Civil Guard numbers up 40% and National Police personnel up 50% as authorities respond to the increased pressure on the enclave.
Albares’ visit comes as Madrid faces mounting pressure to address the humanitarian needs of minors in Ceuta and the wider consequences of the latest migration surge.
Torres stressed that authorities must first establish an accurate record of the minors in Ceuta.
The registration process will help determine how many children remain in the enclave and provide the information needed to assess their circumstances and begin work on possible family reunification.
The government has not yet provided a final figure for the number of minors currently in Ceuta.