Spain records lowest migration rates from Morocco since 2017

Spain’s irregular migration rates have decreased as the country recorded its lowest number of entries since 2017 at the beginning of this year.

According to the Ministry of the Interior’s most recent report, which was made public on Monday, only 5,208 migrants entered Spain illegally between January 1 and April 15, 2023, which is a 44% decrease compared to the 9,302 recorded during the same period in 2022.

The decrease is largely due to Morocco’s increased control over migrants from its territory, with both sea and land entries decreasing by 39.2% and 77%, respectively.

The improved control by Morocco over its Atlantic coast is part of the reconciliation between Rabat and Madrid, following Spain’s support for Morocco’s plan for autonomy over Western Sahara last year.

The report also revealed that 2,516 entries were registered along the coasts of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, which is an increase of 48.4% compared to the previous year.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s interior minister, visited Melilla on Monday to make the announcement.

The reduction in irregular migration to Spain is partly due to the decreased departures from all nations with an undocumented migration route to the country, according to a report by the European Commission.

The Canary Islands route experienced a significant decline last year, with 25% fewer travelers, attributed to the Moroccan authorities’ control over the Western Sahara coasts.

Entries by sea in Ceuta decreased from 33 in 2022 to 16 in the first few months of this year, while Melilla saw a 25.6% increase, with entries rising from 32 to 43.

However, a significant entrance attempt was turned back last Friday in Ceuta by Moroccan security troops, leaving hundreds of individuals with no alternative but to cross the border on land.