On April 10, the Spanish parliament will vote on a law requiring regions to accommodate underage migrants to ease the burden on overcrowded reception centers in the Canary Islands.
The archipelago’s government supports the reform, calling it a matter of “morality and justice,” while the conservative People’s Party intends to challenge it in court.
Currently, the Canary Islands host around 5,000 unaccompanied minors, despite having a capacity for only 900. In 2024, the number of migrant deaths en route to Spain reached a record high—over 10,000 people, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
On March 21, Spanish rescuers evacuated 19 migrants off the coast of Gran Canaria. On the same day, a boat carrying 10 bodies was found off the coast of Brazil, likely en route to the Canary Islands. Authorities continue efforts to combat illegal migration, arresting organizers in Senegal who attempted to smuggle 500 people. Politicians are urging the EU to take a more active role in addressing the crisis.
