The central Executive has given the green light this Tuesday to the figure of 'single command' in Ceuta in light of the migratory crisis that the autonomous city is experiencing. This new structure will be under the direction of the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, and will have as its main objective the "return and repatriation" of the migrant people who accessed en masse, both adults and minors, always within the legal framework and with respect for human rights.
The measure is adopted after the extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by Pedro Sánchez, in which the "situation of interest for national security" in Ceuta was analyzed after the entry, at the end of July, of more than 80,000 migrants from the border with Morocco.
The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and Government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, has detailed that, for the first time, the Executive will implement a "functional authority" —the so-called 'single command'— headed by Ángel Víctor Torres to "reinforce coordination" among all the administrations and bodies involved. According to Saiz, this represents a "new phase" in the State's response in Ceuta.
This 'single command' will have a collegiate body in which the autonomous city will participate, represented by its president, Juan Jesús Vivas, the Government Delegation, the National Intelligence Center (CNI), the National Security Department, and eleven ministries with competencies in managing the migratory crisis.
In this scenario, Saiz emphasized that "Ceuta is today the heart of Spain" and stressed that the Executive "has been, is, and will continue to be in the city for as long as necessary with the resources that are necessary."
The spokesperson highlighted Torres' trajectory for his time at the head of the Government of the Canary Islands and pointed out that the situation the autonomous city is experiencing is "extraordinary," which also demands "an extraordinary response" articulated "in different phases, from security and control of the situation, coordination, collaboration between Administrations to humanitarian attention."
"Return and repatriation" as the axis of the new phase
In relation to the first phase of response, Ángel Víctor Torres indicated that between "24 and 48 hours" returned to Morocco between 90 and 95% of the more than 70,000 people who entered on July 30 and 31 in Ceuta, a "correct action that yielded results," he has defended.
Now, the Government opens a second stage aimed at those who did not return to their country of origin. The minister has emphasized that the priority is the "return and repatriation of the largest number of people," both adults and minors, always adhering to the legal framework and human rights, and considering that the "regulation is different" depending on age.
"The priority of the Government of Spain is the return, but it must be done taking into account that if we are talking about minors, family reunification and with processes established by international law," he has pointed out.
Torres has reiterated the need to identify migrant individuals, who "have their rights," and to provide adequate spaces for their reception. At the same time, he has stressed that, in the case of minors, the goal is that they "are returned" always ensuring the best interest of the child.
The head of Territorial Policy has also highlighted the importance of coordinating specific resources in Ceuta, Melilla, or the Canary Islands, warning that the massive arrival of migrants could "happen again." He added that around one hundred people are leaving the autonomous city "every day" and that "very few are practically entering."
Finally, Torres has announced that he has requested to appear this Thursday in the National Security Commission and that he will travel to Ceuta to hold various working meetings with the authorities involved in managing the crisis.