The Superior Prosecutor's Office of the Canary Islands has assured this Tuesday that it only "requested information" from the General Directorate of Child Protection of the Government of the Canary Islands "regarding the specific measures that were being adopted" to assist migrant minors in El Hierro, denying the issuance of any requirement.
In a statement, the Public Ministry explained that, after being informed by the Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade that the NGO in charge of the reception and care of migrant minors in El Hierro stated that they could not accommodate the 15 boys and girls who arrived in a cayuco on August 29, "in the normal exercise of its functions, it only requested information."
"It is reiterated that the Prosecutor's Office solely and exclusively requested information, without any requirement being made to the NGO or the General Directorate," the Public Ministry has rejected.
The Prosecutor's Office has responded in this way to the Government of the Canary Islands, which this Monday stated that "pressure" had been received from the Public Ministry and the National Police on the organizations in charge of caring for minors in El Hierro, who were required, according to their version, to accept the reception of minors, despite stating that their resources were overwhelmed.
This fact has led to a change of position in the regional Executive, which announced, after agreeing on it in the Governing Council, that any migrant minor who arrives on the islands must have the express authorization of the autonomous community to be cared for in the centers managed by the NGOs, since from now on it understands that children and adolescents are under police custody, not abandoned or helpless, and are therefore the responsibility of the State.
From the Superior Prosecutor's Office of the Canary Islands, they have pointed out that they were also aware of the impossibility of said minors "being transferred to the Temporary Care Center for Foreigners (CATE) of San Andrés because it was completely overwhelmed and it was not possible to guarantee their reception separated from adult migrants", and that hence their request for information from the regional government.
