Judges reject mass asylum denials in Ceuta

Judicial associations in Spain have rejected proposals to implement mass denials of asylum requests in Ceuta. Following a large-scale arrival of migrants in late July, the President of Ceuta, Juan Vivas, requested that the central government deny asylum and regularization to those who entered the city irregularly.

The Asociación Profesional de la Magistratura (APM) and the Foro Judicial Independiente (FJI) have warned that international protection requests must be examined on an individual basis. The APM stated that while Spanish law allows for the acceleration of asylum processing at borders, it does not permit a blanket decision to deny asylum to everyone who enters irregularly. The association emphasized that irregular entry and the right to seek international protection are distinct legal matters, as individuals entering irregularly may still meet the necessary requirements for protection.

Similarly, the Foro Judicial Independiente has advocated for the study of each case individually to ensure legal compliance.