The Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has reiterated that the massive arrival of people in Ceuta was "absolutely unpredictable" and "a tide impossible to contain."
"Who would have thought that we would have more than 140 deceased," he pointed out in an interview on 'Salvados', in which he responded to questions raised by several Ceuta citizens.
Torres admitted that Ceuta experienced an "impossible tide to contain" on July 30 and 31 and that at no time did they contemplate the arrival of "80,000 or 90,000 people," despite the fact that in previous days there had already been a "significant" increase in entries. "That was absolutely unpredictable and absolutely no one warned of a quantity of that magnitude," he emphasized.
"It was a tremendous few hours," the minister recounted, who also defended that the now former Government Delegate in Ceuta, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, "has been treated unjustly": "I believe he tried to do things in the best possible way, and I think there has been evident partisan use."
Returns to Morocco and unaccompanied migrant minors
Torres explained that in the days following, "a significant number" of migrants returned to Morocco by their own decision, although he did not specify how many.
The minister argued these returns on the basis that most of the people who crossed came from Morocco and, therefore, could not apply for international protection, as this could lead to a return file. "They will be there for more weeks or less, but 90% return because they logically do not want to have a police record," he pointed out.
Regarding unaccompanied migrant minors, Torres emphasized that the "priority" is family reunification in Morocco. However, he admitted that many of them "will not want to return" and that the "superior right of the minor" must prevail.
In light of this scenario, he has again proposed as a solution the distribution of these minors among the different autonomous communities and estimated that 4,000 minors have been transferred to other territories in the last two years, without "generating any pressure."
The head of Territorial Policy has criticized the autonomous governments of the PP that have refused to take in these minors and has emphasized that this distribution responds to a criterion of "justice and mandatory solidarity," since "they are much better attended" and can be educated. "I believe that is the solution," he concluded, rejecting that there is an "attraction effect."
Reinforcement of the border and relationship with Morocco
Questioned about the actions planned at the border, Torres has revealed that one of the measures involves reinforcing "one of the weakest borders, if not the weakest in the world." To this end, he has announced works with "urgency" to make it difficult to cross "from one side to the other" and that the transit is "much more complicated."
"That decision has already been made by the Government of Spain and along with it, logically, that the diplomatic efforts are the precise, necessary ones so that the countries that are neighbors respect each other," he added.
Torres has admitted that "things were not done well on the part of border control" and that it is "undeniable" that it was an episode that "led to a break in what is territorial sovereignty, and we have manifested it as such."
However, he has repeatedly rejected that Morocco is the direct responsible for the migration crisis, an accusation he has described as "very serious," and has defended the need to maintain "the best relationship" with the neighboring country.
Investigation of possible cases of violence
Finally, he has commented on the information published by 'ElDiario.es' about several audios in which military personnel can be heard boasting about assaults on migrants. Torres, who has referred the matter to the Ministry of Defense as the competent department, has called for reporting any violent acts.
"We have informed the justice system, we also encourage that reports are made if these events really occur. If it is really as we see in the images, that cannot be," he stated.