Irregular arrivals during the first seven months of 2024 – migratory pressure grows in the Canary Islands and the route pattern changes.
In the first seven months of 2024, there has been a notable increase in irregular arrivals to Spain, reflecting the changing dynamics of migration to Europe. This phenomenon, driven by various factors such as poverty, political instability, armed conflicts and natural disasters, has been particularly intense on the route to the Canary Islands, confirmed as being the main entry route to the country. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, 73.9% of irregular arrivals were concentrated on this route, which has generated growing migratory pressure on the islands.
In the period, a total of 21,470 people arrived on the Canary Islands’ shores, an increase of 152.4% compared to the 8,508 arrivals in the same period in 2023. This route is mainly used by migrants from West African countries, fleeing conditions of extreme poverty, lack of job opportunities, and in some cases, persecution due to armed conflict or for reasons related to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Although the pace of arrivals has slowed since March, the pressure on the islands remains considerable.
On the other hand, the route to the mainland and the Balearic Islands, which represents 21.2% of arrivals, experienced a decrease of 11.6%, with 6,151 people arriving in 2024 compared to 6,962 the previous year. This route is mainly used by migrants from the Maghreb, especially Morocco and Algeria, who seek to escape repression and improve their living conditions. These migrants are usually young people in search of economic stability and better opportunities.
Moreover, the routes to Ceuta and Melilla by sea have shown a drastic decrease. In Ceuta, the number of arrivals fell by 60.6%, from 33 persons in 2023 to only 13 in 2024. Melilla has seen an even steeper decline, with a 94% drop, with only 6 arrivals in 2024. Most of the migrants arriving in these cities are Moroccans and Algerians, with a similar profile to those arriving in the mainland and the Balearic Islands: young men seeking to improve their quality of life and find employment in Europe.
However, in contrast to the decrease in maritime arrivals, Ceuta has registered a significant increase in arrivals by land. In the first seven months of 2024, 1,354 people crossed into Ceuta by land, an increase of 165.5% compared to the 510 people who crossed in 2023. Most of these migrants are young people of Moroccan and sub-Saharan origin who, after spending long periods in Morocco, try to cross the border in search of a better life. Melilla, for its part, has experienced a 39.3% decrease in land arrivals, with only 37 people entering through this route in 2024, compared to 61 in 2023. Despite the decrease, the profiles of migrants using this route are similar to those of Ceuta.
Against this backdrop, organisations such as Accem have stressed the need to open legal and safe routes to more effectively manage migration flows and guarantee migrants’ human rights. The creation of legal routes would not only help reduce pressure on borders and avoid the use of dangerous routes controlled by smuggling networks, but would also provide a viable alternative for those seeking asylum or international protection. Proposed measures include the facilitation of humanitarian visas, the expansion of resettlement programmes and greater involvement of embassies and consulates abroad in the processing of applications for international protection.
These actions would not only allow for a more orderly and humane management of migration flows, but would also contribute to safeguarding the safety of migrants, many of whom are forced to risk their lives on dangerous journeys to reach European soil. Moreover, by offering safe and legal alternatives, it could reduce the pressure on Spanish borders and encourage a more supportive and human rights-friendly response.
5th October 2024
[translated from Spanish]
