Underage migrants are the responsibility of autonomous regional institutions, and they are overcrowded in the Canary Islands and Ceuta because the Popular Party (PP) refused to support their redistribution to other regions. "A humanitarian response for minors is urgent," said Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres on Thursday, January 2.

The minister described the "complicated situation" on the archipelago and in Spain's Moroccan enclave, citing record migrant arrivals in 2024, which have continued into the new year. On January 1, 2025, another 140 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands. Meanwhile, at least two people have been reported dead during the crossings.

In an interview with Cadena Ser radio, Torres responded to accusations from Fernando Clavijo, the regional president of the Canary Islands from Coalición Canaria, who governs with the support of the PP. Clavijo had accused the central government of abandoning the islands in dealing with the migration crisis.

"Clavijo governs with the PP, and to avoid angering them, he unfairly blames the Spanish government," Torres said.

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Lack of an agreement on the redistribution of over 5,400 unaccompanied minors

At the center of the controversy, which has concerned the territories of arrival of migrants, is the failure to reach an agreement between the progressive executive and the conservative opposition in Spain on the redistribution of over 5,400 unaccompanied minors present on the Canary Islands, where the local government will soon be unable to host more migrants.

The PP has also voted against reforms that would make it mandatory for other regions to host migrants. The situation is further complicated by the indirect threat from the far-right Vox party, which has warned it could withdraw its support for regional governments led by the PP if they negotiate immigration agreements with Prime Minister Sánchez's government.

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Nearly 64,000 irregular migrants reached Spain in 2024

Spain saw the arrival of 63,970 irregular migrants in 2024, a 12.5 percent increase from the previous year’s 56,852 arrivals, according to Interior Ministry data published Thursday. This figure is comparable to the 64,298 arrivals recorded in 2018.

The Atlantic route from North Africa to the Canary Islands remains the most frequently used, with 46,843 migrants reaching the archipelago in 2024, a 17.4 percent increase from the 39,910 arrivals in 2023, which was the previous record.

Overall, 61,323 migrants reached Spain by sea, a 10.3 percent increase compared to 2023.

Land and sea arrivals to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Morocco also surged, with 2,531 migrants arriving in 2024 -- up 137 percent from the previous year. Conversely, the number of migrants able to cross the high protection barriers in Spain's other enclave, Melilla, dropped by 30 percent, with 116 migrants in 2024 compared to 166 in 2023.

Landings on the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean decreased, with 14,432 migrants arriving in 2024, a 6.5 percent drop compared to the previous year.

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