Spain rejects asylum claims from 30 Moroccans at Ceuta migrant center

At least 30 Moroccans staying at Ceuta’s main migrant center have been denied asylum or subsidiary protection, according to El Pueblo de Ceuta.

The decisions affect people housed at the Temporary Immigrant Detention Center, or CETI, where hundreds of Moroccans have been staying following the mass arrivals in late July.

Those whose applications were rejected have 10 days from notification to leave the center voluntarily. If they do not, they could normally be transferred to a foreigner detention center as a step toward removal to Morocco.

They can still appeal the decisions or submit new evidence, which could delay any return while their cases are reviewed.

The CETI housed 779 people as of Tuesday, including 591 Moroccans, 73 Algerians and others from countries such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Palestine and several sub-Saharan African states.

The large number of Moroccans comes as Spain deals with the fallout from the mass arrival in Ceuta on July 30.

Spanish Secretary of State for Migration Pilar Cancela visited the CETI on Wednesday to assess ways to expand its capacity by at least 300 places. Possible measures include adding temporary tents to the center’s courtyard and installing more bunk beds.

The asylum decisions also come after the European Pact on Migration and Asylum took effect in June, with Morocco included on the EU’s list of safe third countries.

NGOs and migration experts cited by the Spanish newspaper said this makes it harder for Moroccan applicants to obtain international protection, but it does not automatically prevent them from seeking asylum.

Applicants can still claim protection if they can show a well-founded fear of persecution or other grounds recognized under international and Spanish law, including political opinion, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, gender or sexual orientation.

Asylum remains a legal right under international agreements and Spanish law, meaning each application must be assessed on its individual circumstances.