2023-08-09 20:01:44
Predictably, July was a hectic month on immigration issues. Irregular immigration skyrocketed this month. This is clear from the latest report published by the Ministry of the Interior with irregular immigration data, which has recorded the arrival of 3,470 immigrants in Spain during this period, 2,153 of whom have reached our country in the last fortnight.
The rebound that has occurred over the last four weeks, especially by sea, has been very striking. To the point that, despite the decrease in the data registered during the first semester, the same figures for 2022 are already beginning to be reached. In fact, 45% more migrants have been registered than last year on these same dates.
It is common for the maritime traffic of irregular vessels to increase during the summer. The high temperatures typical of this season of the year and the good state of the sea favor the proliferation of “taxi boats”, which take advantage of the weather and the good state of the sea to reactivate the traffic of illegal immigrants who intend to reach our country.
There have been 31.8% more arrivals from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands than last year
According to the aforementioned report, there has been a significant increase in arrivals from the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The entry of immigrants through this route continues to increase, with 6,962 people in 553 boats, 31.8% more than a year ago.
Although the Ministry of the Interior does not break down these data, it is striking that the bulk of the vessels that have arrived on the Spanish coast this month have done so via the Mediterranean route.
Despite the concern of the Government of the Canary Islands, which fears that the instability that Senegal is going through could cause an avalanche of arrivals of migrants to the islands, the Canary route has not been the busiest in recent weeks. Although it is true that there was an increase in the traffic of irregular boats after the riots and the incidents that occurred in the West African country on June 1, despite the trickle of arrivals of cayucos to the Canary Islands, the waters calmed down in this area. In fact, so far this year, migrants arriving by sea in the archipelago have decreased (8,508 in 165 small boats, compared to 9,589 in 212 vessels a year earlier). The Algerian route has been the one that has gotten the most out of control.
During the last three days of the month alone, more than 30 precarious boats were intercepted, reaching the coasts of Murcia, Alicante, Almería, Granada and the Balearic Islands with more than 500 occupants on board, most of them Algerian and Moroccan.
The Murcian coast has been one of the ones that has received the most immigrants during this period. As reported by the Government Delegation, all the boats located in this region are “taxi boats” that cover fast routes from North Africa to the coast of southeastern Spain, a matter that is in the hands of the Police, which is investigating the identification of the skippers of these boats.
The issue of the rise in migration on the Algerian route is due, among other factors, to Pedro Sánchez’s turn with the Sahara, which has resulted in a striking decrease in control by Algeria.
On the other hand, the balance of the Ministry of the Interior shows a slight decrease in the arrival of migrants by land, 3.3% (16,174 compared to 16,718 in the same period of 2022).
Analyzing the data provided in recent months by the department directed by Grande-Marlaska, the arrival of immigrants decreased by 11.35% in the first semester, with 12,704 entries compared to the 14,331 registered during the same period of 2022. However, the last days of July there was a flood of boat arrivals that raises fears due to the imbalance in the figures, which may far exceed those of the previous year.
Canary Islands insists on asking the Government for help
The Government of the Canary Islands has demanded that the Ministry of the Interior inform it of the measures adopted in view of the increase in the arrival of immigrants from Senegal to the archipelago. The Canarian president, Alfonso Cabello, yesterday expressed his concern about the consequences that the crisis in the African country may have on the migratory phenomenon. Last week he already spoke with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the matter. “The increasing arrival of boats in recent days has made us attend to 51 more unaccompanied minors, without counting on the solidarity of other communities or more budget,” Cabello said.