MADRID – Migrants moving to the Balearic Islands are facing a backlash as local politicians demand that no more migrants be sent to the popular holiday destination amid a growing national crisis.
Most asylum seekers arrive in Spain after a perilous journey in small boats from West Africa to the Canary Islands, before being quickly transferred to camps on the mainland or in the Balearic Islands.
The number of migrants entering Spain by small boats increased by 308% in January, with the majority arriving in the Canary Islands, which is currently dealing with a full-blown crisis. From the beginning of this year to March 15, 12,393 migrants have arrived at the holiday hotspot, a 469% increase from 2,178 in 2023.
Since the start of the year, 463 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean on rickety boats from North Africa, arriving directly in Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.
According to statistics, a total of 2,011 migrants arrived in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands by sea between January 1 and March 15, an increase of 54% from 1,306 in 2023 Spanish government data — but that’s still a pittance compared to the tens of thousands of migrants heading to the Canary Islands.
However, Spain’s left-wing government allocates asylum seekers to regions while it considers their applications, a process that typically takes around three years.
The ruling People’s Party of the Balearic Islands supported Vox’s motion in a regional parliamentary vote in February, calling on Spain’s left-wing government not to send more migrants to the islands.
The far-right Vox party also demanded that irregular migrants should not register with the island’s parliament, which is how they receive basic services while their asylum claims are considered.
“We should stop giving grants and help to NGOs working with illegal immigrants,” said Vox MP Sergio Rodriguez. I.
José María Manso, retired chief inspector of the foreigners department of the National Police of the Balearic Islands, claimed that immigrants caused crime.
Chief Inspector Manso told last minute Newspaper: “It is true that more and more people are living irregularly in Mallorca. The vast majority of those who stay here are committing crimes and are recidivists. There is no question that they can commit as many as 30 crimes.”
However, Andrew Grimalt of the Balearic Inclusion Network, which helps migrants, condemned Vox’s motion.
“We should eliminate all hate speech and guarantee the rights of all people,” he told Cadena Ser radio station. “Access to these rights, resources and benefits must be guaranteed regardless of their circumstances.”
Anna Nicholas, a British writer and long-time resident of Mallorca, said most people on the island are tolerant of immigrants.
“People here are generally very accepting of immigrants,” she told us I.
Spanish Children’s Minister Sira Rego has allocated an additional €15m (£12.84m) to help provide more resources to accommodate child migrants in the Balearic Islands.
But Caterina Sirer, the Balearic Islands Minister of Social Affairs, called on the Spanish government to step up efforts to control child migrants sent from the Canary Islands to Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. control.
According to a 2023 report by Focus on Spanish Society, the Balearic Islands have the highest number of foreigners in Spain, with almost a third of residents coming from the UK, Germany and other countries. Spanish think tank Funcas.
There are 16,000 Britons registered with the authorities on the island, making it the fourth largest community of British citizens in Spain. A total of 307,000 people were registered in 2023, according to the Spanish Statistics Institute.
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