Supreme Court Demands Urgent Action for Unaccompanied Minors in Canary Islands
The Supreme Court has ordered the Spanish Government to urgently implement measures for the thousand unaccompanied minors in the Canary Islands who wish to apply for asylum. The court warned that failure to comply could lead to coercive measures against those responsible. In a recent ruling from the Contentious-Administrative Chamber, the court noted a clear breach of a precautionary measure established on March 25, after a request from the Government of the Canary Islands. During a hearing on May 29, government officials admitted they had not assessed any minors in the two months since the order was issued, nor had they compiled a complete and accurate list of the affected youths. This ruling has underscored the shortcomings of the state administration in ensuring that these vulnerable minors have access to adequate hosting conditions, which fall within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, the judges pointed out the lack of effective measures to address the overcrowding issue in processing applications. The court reiterated its demand for the government to take several actions, including supplying the necessary resources to handle asylum applications within a reasonable timeframe—specifically, within 30 days—and ensuring that these minors can access the state hosting system for asylum seekers within 15 days. In response to the ruling, the Government has officially withdrawn its appeal, with Justice Minister Félix Bolaños stating that this decision reflects a commitment to loyalty and good faith in negotiations, emphasizing a desire to reach an agreement rather than following a lengthy judicial process.
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