“What is being done is to try to modify article 35 of the Aliens Act to give a structural response to a problem that not only exists in the present, but has existed in the past and that, possibly, may exist in the future, and that is done through homogeneous and objective criteria so that none of the territories will ever have to suffer significant pressure.”
The Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, has referred to the Royal Decree-Law for the reception of unaccompanied foreign minors, she has pointed out that the objective is to give an answer to this question that affects different territories of the country but that, as she recalled, Melilla has also lived at certain times and that, in addition, allows minors to be cared for in conditions.
Thus, the head of the Delegation recalled that “in previous stages we have had significant pressure in Melilla and, in a territory of 13 square kilometers, the resources are what they are”. Hence, he said, that “if we had had the possibility of having this measure of solution, at that time we would have thanked him”.
However, in allusion to the criticisms of the PP of Melilla, “now it seems that we forget, because the pressure is not in this territory”. However, he has reiterated that such pressure exists in other parts of the territory, therefore, it is “a measure of solidarity”. A measure, he said, “that gives a structural response, that is accompanied by means, that is also accompanied by an economic endowment and that, in the end, is positive for the whole of the national territory.”
Structural response
Going deeper into this issue, Moh stressed that work is being done to respond to a situation “that Melilla does not need today, but maybe tomorrow it will need it, as happens right now to Ceuta”.
“Why in Ceuta do you agree with this measure and not in Melilla? Because when you have that pressure you need an answer and we do not need it at present, but in the future we do”, he insisted.
At this point, the Delegate stressed that the most appropriate thing is “to work on structural responses and not to give a timely response to a specific problem that later, in the future, does not translate into anything”.
For this reason, it has played down the criticisms made by the popular Melillenses, who are only looking for a political return. “I want to convey the message once again to the citizens that from this Government Delegation and from the Government of Spain we are and will be working for and to solve people’s problems.”
City Report
In her speech, the Delegate explained that the different territories have to submit a report with the number of minors they have in reception and then it will be in the Sectoral Commission on Children where the distribution that is going to be done in the different Communities and Autonomous Cities is addressed.
Therefore, it has advanced that right now it is the Autonomous City itself that has to prepare this report, which will be the one to establish these criteria, which has insisted are objectives and has regretted that an attempt is being made to use a territory to challenge the measure.