Canary Islands threatens legal action over migrant minor triage

The Government of the Canary Islands is threatening to take legal action against the Spanish central government regarding the management of unaccompanied migrant minors. Following a meeting between Social Welfare Counselor Candelaria Delgado and Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz, no agreement was reached concerning the triage process—the initial identification and evaluation of minors upon arrival.

Canary Islands officials argue that under the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, the triage of minors is an exclusive responsibility of the State, as it pertains to the management of external borders. The regional government maintains that while they are willing to collaborate, they cannot assume the legal responsibilities or the administrative burden of a competence that has not been formally delegated to autonomous communities.

Delgado expressed concern over rising numbers of minors and overcrowding in the islands, noting that the lack of clarity regarding legal representation for these minors during the triage process is unacceptable. If the central government does not assume these duties, the Canary Islands administration intends to escalate the dispute to the Supreme Court.