Indignation between the Civil Guard and the socialist Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaskawho denied this Wednesday that the Algeria-Balearic Islands migratory route does not exist despite the avalanche of boats. The Professional Justice Association of the Civil Guard (Jucil) warned against 115% increase of the number of illegal immigrants arriving in the archipelago in 2024 compared to last year.
A situation that the association described as “unprecedented migration crisis“, notably in Formentera, an island which, with only 28 Civil Guard agents, managed to welcome more than 2,000 immigrants irregular so far this year.
“The civil guards stationed on this island are overwhelmed and confronted with mafias who operate with more audacity and violence. There is an urgent need to reinforce personnel and provide the island with a maritime service base to guarantee the safety of migrants, civil guards and citizens and residents,” Jucil said.
So far this year, a total of 4,897 migrants compared to 2,278 in 2023that is to say more than double. There was also a 132 percent increase in the number of ships arriving (297 versus 128). For Jucil, these data consolidate the archipelago as a important entry point for people of North African, sub-Saharan origin and, more recently, from places as remote as Pakistan and Syria.
Jucil explained that the problem is not limited to Formentera since the lack of personnel to locate, identify, guard and transfer migrants also affects Ibiza, where agents must abandon their citizen security tasks to support the migratory flow.
And the islands of Ibiza and Formentera are the new favorite destination for boats arriving on the Balearic coasts. A new trend that confirms, at least in 2024, that there has been a change in the arrival point of boats arriving in the Balearic Islands. Previously it was Majorca the Balearic island which concentrated most of the arrivals of cayucos, with a 80 percent of the total. However, this year the arrivals have been distributed differently and now it is Ibiza and Formentera which represent the most 60 percent of total immigrant and boat arrivals.
Jucil demands more Civil Guard agents
The association considered that to resolve this crisis, it was necessary immediate reinforcement of staff intended for Formentera and also the one that serves the rest of the Balearic Islands. Likewise, the association proposed the creation of abased at the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard in Formentera and highlighted the usefulness of offering economic incentives that facilitate attraction to these destinations.
He also said that coordination, both national and European, was needed to tackle the root causes of the migration crisis.
