Spanish Government and Canary Islands clash over migrant minor triage

A jurisdictional dispute has emerged between the Spanish central government and the Canary Islands regional government regarding the responsibility for the triage of migrant minors. The triage process involves the initial identification and evaluation of minors upon arrival at the border.

Anselmo Pestana, the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, stated that the responsibility lies with the regional executive. He argued that because the State manages the Temporary Centers for Foreigners (CATE), European regulations require the triage to be conducted by an authority independent of those managing the centers.

Conversely, Candelaria Delgado, the Canary Islands Minister of Social Welfare, maintains that this is an exclusively state competence. The regional government has warned it may appeal to the Supreme Court if the central government does not assume these duties. The dispute follows the implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which introduced triage as a mechanism to enhance border controls.