Annual numbers released by Spain’s Interior Ministry have shown that 46,843 migrants reached Europe via the Canary Islands in 2024, marking a new record.
The figures released on December 31 revealed irregular migrants continued to arrive at the seven-island archipelago, with 2024 seeing a 17 per cent increase, despite 2023 having already set record-breaking levels.
Local facilities have been overwhelmed, with more than 5,500 minors currently under government care and mainland Spain has become divided on the distribution of those minors.
The Canary Islands have emerged as a primary hotspot for migration, as the Atlantic route connecting West Africa to Spain sees a surge in arrivals. That came as stricter border policies in Italy have made the Mediterranean route increasingly difficult.
This has placed Spain at the centre of Europe’s migration crisis, with overall migration to the European Union declining overall but sharply increasing toward Spain.
Total migration to Spain went up 12.5 per cent in 2024, growing from 56,852 in 2023 to 63,970.
That was despite the Atlantic migration route being among the deadliest in the world.
According to a recent report by the Spanish relief group Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders), more than 10,000 migrants drowned last year while attempting to reach the Canary Islands.
The group attributed that to the use of dilapidated boats, hazardous waterways and a lack of resources for rescues,. It added it was the greatest number since it began recording drownings in 2007 and a 50 per cent increase over 2023.
At the end of 2024, some 2,000 migrants arrived at the archipelago and when a boat sank on December 19, 69 people died, according to the government of Mali.
“The loss of a single life is a cause for sadness and we regret every one of them,” the Spanish migration ministry told AFP in reaction to the report.
“This government maintains a transversal policy that prioritises human rights and works in collaboration with other ministries and countries of origin and transit to promote regular and safe migration.”
Spain’s Government has said it wanted to let in more migrants.
It said its intention was to grant residency and work permits to around 300,000 undocumented migrants each year from 2025 to 2027. That, it said, was part of a broader strategy to address labor shortages due to an ageing population and low birth rates.
The Spanish Government is set to disburse €35 million to its regions to support the reception of unaccompanied migrant minors who are currently on Spanish territory. https://t.co/8fphbYcX2s
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) September 4, 2024
