The Government of Spain has resumed the returns of immigrants with the return to Mauritania of 22 people who arrived in the Canary Islands in boats, as confirmed to Europa Press by sources familiar with the operation. They are, specifically, young people who remained in the Foreigners Detention Center (CIE) of Gran Canaria.
On September 23, the National Police ordered the reopening of the CIEs, which had been rendered unusable during the state of alarm due to the coronavirus due to the closure of borders and the impossibility of processing return trips to the countries of origin.
Thus, the use of these facilities was resumed with the aim of being occupied by migrants arriving in Spain in boats and canoes. In addition, it was requested to carry out the "appropriate steps" with the consulates of the countries of origin to materialize the expulsions.
In the context of the crisis due to the arrival of immigrants to the Canary Islands, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, traveled to the islands last week together with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. In the joint press conference, he announced the reinforcement of the police presence in Mauritania and also the closure of the immigrant reception device in Arguineguín, replaced by another in the military powder keg of Barranco Seco.
In addition, the head of the Interior has made several trips to African countries, including Mauritania, to reactivate the cooperation channels that allow the prevention at source of irregular immigration and the returns of those who reach the Spanish coasts.
