News
A group of migrants, including several minors, are being assisted by members of the Red Cross after they were rescued by Maritime Rescue near the island of Tenerife, in the port of Los Cristianos, Spain, 21 January 2025 | Photo: EPA/ALBERTO VALDES
A group of migrants, including several minors, are being assisted by members of the Red Cross after they were rescued by Maritime Rescue near the island of Tenerife, in the port of Los Cristianos, Spain, 21 January 2025 | Photo: EPA/ALBERTO VALDES

Spanish government-regions discuss relocation of migrant minors

Latest update : 2025/04/29
By ANSA Latest update : 2025/04/29

Spain's Ministry of Youth and Childhood wants to discuss with autonomous communities a plan to relocate migrant children and teens. However, political differences risk complicating the implementation of a mechanism which aims to transfer some 4,400 young foreigners from areas under pressure like the Canary Islands and Ceuta.

Spain’s Ministry of Youth and Childhood was set to meet with the country’s autonomous communities to approve criteria for redistributing unaccompanied migrant minors. Originally scheduled for April 28 at the Ministry of Territorial Policy, the meeting was postponed due to a power outage affecting the entire Iberian Peninsula.

The meeting was intended to advance a decree law approved in April by the Congress of Deputies, which amends immigration legislation. Under the plan, around 4,400 young migrants -- most currently in the Canary Islands -- would be relocated to other regions over the coming year, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

Read AlsoSpain: More than 4,000 unaccompanied minors to be distributed nationwide

Tensions between central government and regions

The decree gives the Sectorial Conference the power to change the relocation system, but only with the unanimous approval of the regions. The outlook is uncertain: the government of Aragon has already appealed against the summoning of the Conference, while the Community of Madrid has requested its annulment, deeming it illegal.

Despite such resistance, the government will proceed with the redistribution plan outlined by the decree if an agreement is not reached.

Criteria of distribution

The mechanism lists the number of minors each region will need to host, taking into account different parameters:

  • resident population (50 percent)
  • per-capita income (13 percent)
  • unemployment rate (15 percent)
  • hosting commitment (6 percent)
  • dimension of protection system (10 percent)
  • population dispersal (2 percent)
  • characteristics of border cities (2 percent)
  • and insularity (2 percent).

Moreover, if a region exceeds its hosting capacity threefold, it can request the relocation of minors to other areas under the plan.

Extensions and future commitments

The capacity of hosting systems will be extended only for a year, with a decree and the prior approval of the Sectorial Conference.

Subsequently, a unanimous agreement of regions or the absolute majority in Congress will be required. Starting from the second year, if there is no consensus, autonomous communities will not be obligated anymore to follow the central government's decisions on relocations.