The Spanish government has announced that "within a week" the conclusions will be ready regarding the distribution of the approximately 4.400 unaccompanied migrant minors currently housed in the Canary Islands and Ceuta. However, the process remains surrounded by uncertainty. In Andalusia, there are fears that Catalonia and the Basque Country could be exempt from participating in this new distribution, which, according to the Andalusian government, would aggravate the already high pressure that the communities receiving immigrants on the southern border are under.
Although there is still no official confirmation, sources from the Andalusian Government and the Popular Group in the Andalusian Parliament warn that Pedro Sánchez's Executive could justify this possible exemption on the grounds that the social services of both autonomous communities are at the limit of their capacity. A circumstance that, the Andalusian Government stresses, already occurs in its own child protection system, which operates at more than 115% of its capacity without having received adequate support from the central government until now.
The Juanma Moreno government has denounced that, while Andalusia, together with the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, bears the largest burden of immigration in the State, the central government continues to grant privileges to the Catalan separatists, such as the transfer of powers over immigration.
The Popular Party's PNL demands equality in the management of immigration and resources for Andalusia
The Popular Party has registered in the Parliament of Andalusia a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) that demands urgent measures for the care of unaccompanied migrant minors and the recognition of the community as a recipient of migratory flows. The text highlights the pressure that the growing number of minors in a situation of abandonment represents for the autonomous protection system, and warns of the risk of collapse of social services.
The PNL requires that the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors not falls disproportionately on Andalusia and other border communities. Furthermore, it denounces that the phenomenon of immigration has an unequal territorial impact, so management and resources must be distributed equitably among all the autonomous communities.
In this regard, the Junta is calling for its uniqueness as the southern border of Europe to be recognised, just as the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla are. Andalusia argues that the reception of migrants, and in particular of unaccompanied minors, is more intense in its territory and that this should be reflected in the criteria for the distribution of resources and responsibilities.
Partisan management of the Sánchez government's immigration policy
The Andalusian Executive suspects that the Spanish Government could give preferential treatment to the communities governed by pro-independence parties such as ERC and Junts, which would turn the distribution of migrant minors into a matter of political interest and not of inter-territorial solidarity. "We are facing a new partisan and unsupportive gesture from the Spanish Government, which would impose an asymmetric distribution of minors and border management that is not agreed upon with all territories," the Popular Group points out in its parliamentary initiative.
The Junta warns that this immigration policy could lead to a Spain of first and second class communities, depending on their political affinity with the central government. The PSOE's agreement with Junts is a xenophobic pact in which María Jesús Montero has not only signed a text that discriminates against Andalusians, but has also applauded it. An agreement that classifies Andalusians as immigrants in Catalonia and requires them to learn Catalan to reside there. This is a humiliation and an attack on the Constitution.
Andalusia demands fair distribution and adequate resources in the face of migratory pressure
Andalusia insists that immigration management must be carried out on the basis of shared responsibility and the equitable distribution of resources. The Government of Juanma Moreno maintains that the community has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to caring for unaccompanied migrant minors, but that it is necessary to guarantee the sustainability of the protection system.
The Andalusian child protection system is currently in a critical situation, with an occupancy rate of over 115% of its capacity. In addition, the system for caring for former wards is operating at 80% capacity, which raises fears that the arrival of new unaccompanied minors will further aggravate the situation.
The Executive of Juanma Moreno asks the Government of Spain for specific funding to allow these minors to be cared for with dignity, in accordance with the principles of respect for human rights and international standards. Andalusia demands that there be no privileges for some communities while others bear the responsibility and pressure derived from immigration.
Andalusia demands equality in the management of immigration in the face of the privileges granted to separatists
The Andalusian PP has reiterated that its position is clear: equality in the management of immigration, without privileges for some territories or discrimination for others. We will continue to defend the interests of the community against a central government that is prioritising its pacts with the pro-independence parties over institutional responsibility and solidarity between communities.
