Canary Islands rescue of 90 migrants and court‑ordered expulsion of 85 arrivals

Salvamento Marítimo rescued 90 migrants on the same day in two separate operations near the Canary Islands. Forty people were rescued south of El Hierro and fifty were picked up near Lanzarote. All migrants, originating from sub‑Saharan African and Maghreb countries, arrived in good health and were taken to reception facilities in the archipelago.

A later incident saw a cayuco carrying 119 people arrive at El Hierro. A local judge ordered the expulsion of 85 occupants, placing them in a foreigner detention centre while return procedures are arranged. The remaining migrants, including women and minors, will follow a different accommodation pathway. The expulsions occur amid heightened pressure on the Canary Islands as the EU’s new Migration and Asylum Pact tightens return mechanisms, though practical implementation remains challenging.