Clavijo warns that the European Pact on Immigration "goes against" the message of Pope Leo XIV

The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo (Coalición Canaria), has warned that the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which comes into force this Friday, the same day the Pope will be in Tenerife, "goes against exactly" what Leo XIV is transmitting on his visit to Spain and the very reason for his trip to the archipelago.

"This whole pact and this new regulation go against exactly what the Pope is transmitting and why he is coming to the Canary Islands," Clavijo stated in the plenary session of Parliament, where he expressed his concern about the possibility that the islands could be turned into "the jail of Southern Europe."

From now on, migrants arriving on the islands' coasts could remain there for around six months, instead of the current period of approximately a month and a half, Clavijo pointed out.

He denounces the lack of information from the Government of Spain

Clavijo, who responded to questions on this matter raised by the spokespersons for Vox, Nicasio Galván, and ASG, Casimiro Curbelo, denounced that two days before the entry into force of this European pact, he lacks information from the Government of Spain and the European Union on how the procedures will be implemented.

The stay of immigrants in the Canary Islands for six months "generates complexity and an accumulation effect in the islands that worries us," as there are neither sufficient resources nor places, he warned.

"It is not a matter of the islands becoming the jail of Southern Europe, after all that we have always fought for," the regional president warned.

He insisted that he is concerned about the possible violation of human rights in centers located outside the European Union, "precisely because the reception and response," until now, "have been humane, with Christian values, with human rights and the rights of minors prevailing over the path or drift that the European Union is taking."

In his speech, the spokesperson for Vox linked "illegal, massive, and uncontrolled immigration" with "the increase in criminality" and wanted to make it clear that his party's proposals on immigration are based on repatriation.

"Every person who enters Spain illegally must be repatriated; every immigrant, illegal or legal, who makes crime their way of life must be deported; and any immigrant, illegal or legal, who comes here to live on public assistance, does not adapt, and on top of that wants to impose their culture, must be re-emigrated," stated Nicasio Galván.

Clavijo reminded the Vox representative that his Government does not have migratory powers, but only those related to the guardianship of minors arriving in the islands.

"They are vulnerable boys and girls, they are alone and they have arrived alone," and the Executive will not leave them unprotected, he guaranteed.

He urged Galván to explain how he would repatriate a minor who arrives alone and whose parents are unknown, without violating "Spanish legal order, international treaties, respect for the best interests of the child, and human rights."

The ASG spokesperson, Casimiro Curbelo, praised the effort being made by the Government of the Canary Islands to assist migrants arriving in the islands and expressed his conviction that the Pope, during his visit to the archipelago, will congratulate Fernando Clavijo "for the dignified and humane work that has been carried out regarding the migratory phenomenon and for the response that Canarian society has given to this reality."