Reality imposes itself on those who They demand mass expulsions of migrantsThe first thing to ask is whether they are legally possible. To this, Mónica López, general director of the Spanish Commission for Assistance to Refugees (CEAR), explained to LaSexta Noticias that Spanish legislation, like the European Convention on Human Rights, “prohibits collective expulsions.”
SO, Pedro Sanchez He traveled this week to Senegal, Mauritania and Gambia in search of solutions to promote immigration control and stop the arrival of thousands of cayucos on the shores of European countries such as Spain.
The President of the Government, during his trip to these African countries, indicated “a new strategy” advancing that West Africa and the Sahel will become “priority regions” for Spain and stressing that “migration is not a problemis a necessity that involves certain problems” in a speech which, yes, has varied over the days.
A message that has drawn criticism from the Popular Party. Its spokesman, Miguel Tellado, indicated in an interview with ‘esRadio’ that “while Germany and Italy talk about mass expulsions and go to the countries of origin to stop the departures of these irregular immigrants, Sánchez talks about massive regulations and goes to these countries.” countries to encourage departures.
A statement that is not so true if we look at the statistics. Data from the first quarter of this year from Eurostat indicate that Spain is the fifth country of the European Union por number of expulsionsonly behind France, Germany, Sweden and Cyprus.
If we compare ourselves to Italy or Greece, to Mediterranean countries like ours, Spain far surpasses them. We are doubling Greece and tripling Italy. And as the figures show, the speeches of Germany and Italy do not correspond so much in numbers.
And if we talk about expulsions and deportations, they have a separate chapter. minors, children. José Chamizo, spokesman for Sevilla Acoge, explained that “minors cannot be expelled directly because of the Human Rights Convention.”
Migrants in general can also be protected by international standards. As stated in the Geneva Convention of 1951, they recognize the right of migrants to seek asylum in a country if they meet a series of conditions (mainly due to persecution due to armed conflict, race, political or religious ideology or sexual orientation). In this way, and contrary to the discourse adopted by the right, the country to which they migrate must accept their refugee status, even if this must be studied on a case-by-case basis.
Another reality to consider is the logistics for arrest and order expulsion. In 2023, Spain ordered the highest number of expulsions in the last decade: 64,000 people. Although fewer than 6,000 people were executed, or 9% of the total. María José Moreno, head of the legal department of the Peace Movement, said that “Often you don’t know or are unsure if this person is from this country.“.
And to those who see (on the right) mass expulsions as a solution, the Government reminds that the countries of the origin should accept the return. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that “for many of these countries, 15% of their GDP depends on the remittances they receive from these migrants: “Do you think they accept mass expulsions?
