Melilla signs the first three resolutions for the relocation of minors to the peninsula. These derivations are the first to be made in the country and in the city itself since Melilla entered into an extraordinary migratory contingency on August 29.
This has been announced by the Delegate of the Government in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, in the public appearance prior to the coordination meeting hosted by the institution in which, on this occasion, both the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi Spain, and the Director General of the General Administration of the State in the Territory, Agustín Torres, have participated, who have traveled to our city.
These relocations are the result of the “continuous and daily” coordination work, both interministerial and also with the technicians of the Autonomous City, as assured by the head of the Government Delegation. “This has required a fundamental work, an important work that, as I said, has been elaborated through the different ministries involved and also with the technicians of the City, through not only the continuous and daily conversations but also various meetings,” he said.
In his statements, Moh recalled that this is a new regulation, “which has come to give a structural response to a situation we had throughout the territory and which, of course, is always designed to ensure the best interests of the child.”
Collaboration between Administrations
The Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi Spain, has stressed that the process of relocating unaccompanied migrant minors responds both to an exercise in solidarity between territories and to the defense of human rights.
“At a time like the present, where the situation of migration in our country, especially here in Melilla, is complex, I think it is worth stopping the ball for a moment and thinking about what is happening and what the different administrations are doing in a collaborative way,” he said, and, in this regard, he has valued the joint work of the Government Delegation and the technicians of the Autonomous City.
The Secretary of State recalled that, when we talk about migrant minors, we talk about “solidarity of the whole of Spain with the cities and autonomous communities where there is greater pressure”, without losing sight of the fact that we talk about “human rights, of children who have special protection in international law and in our country and who need the attention, understanding and empathy of all”.
Spain, which has recognized the welcoming spirit of Melilla and the work carried out by all the administrations in the application of the Royal Decree Law amending article 35 of the Aliens Act, regulations that make this relocation process possible, has also offered words of thanks for the work of the technicians of the Government Delegation and the Autonomous City, as well as the Prosecutor’s Office, the Police and the State Security Forces and Bodies “for the work they do in all phases of the procedure to guarantee the protection and the superior right of the child.”
In relation to the announcement of the Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, on the signing of the first three resolutions of transfer of minors to the peninsula, Arcadi Spain has stressed that this is another step in this procedure that is being developed with “administrative normality”.
“Today we see those first three dossiers, those first three resolutions that will allow to activate in an already physical and normal way the derivation of the first minors to other territories of the peninsula. It is one more step in solidarity, it is one more step in the defense of human rights and let us trust that this joint work between administrations will benefit the city, the whole of Spain and, above all, the benefit of minors”, he stressed.
The number two of the Ministry of Territorial Policy has clarified that after these first relocations, they are going to be given, successively as all the files are completed, the following, but that does make it clear that these minors “are going to be perfectly accompanied”, given that there is always the Prosecutor’s Office “throughout the procedure”.
“A report is presented throughout the instruction of the part made by the Government Delegation and then it is also notified to the destination community, it is also notified to the Government Delegation, to the Autonomous Government and also to the Police. Therefore, they will be protected by all administrations and also by the Prosecutor’s Office itself,” he said.
Spain, Solidarity and Human Rights Defender
To questions from the press and about the possibility that Vox conditions autonomous governments to prevent the relocation of these minors, Spain has pointed out that “there is a very dramatic situation for minors who come without their parents”.
“Children come completely helpless, a complex situation in the territories that host them, such as the city of Melilla, and I believe that Spanish society is a society that believes in solidarity between territories and that also believes in human rights, especially of children,” he said.
In fact, he recalled that this solidarity and defense of human rights “is something that has also been seen with the situation and the denunciation made by the vast majority of the Spanish people, before the children who have died in Gaza.” “I believe that we are very empathetic and very supportive and guarantor as a society of that defense of human rights, especially of minors,” he stressed.
For this reason, he has recognized that “there are statements that surprise and that move away from what is the constitutional framework itself”. For this reason, he has shown his confidence that all administrations “comply with what the regulations say and always put ahead of their political interests, which can be circumstantial, the rights of minors and solidarity between territories in our country”.
Thanks to all those involved
The coordination meeting held today in Government Delegation was attended by the aforementioned ministerial representatives, technicians of the Autonomous City, State Security Forces and Bodies, Local Police and Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the staff of the Delegation itself.
Both the Secretary of State and the Delegate have expressed their gratitude to all the people involved, to all the staff of Government Delegation, Autonomous City, Prosecutor’s Office, National Police and Local Police, for the work done to be able to complete these first resolutions in time and form, while they have advanced that they are working on about thirty other dossiers.