El ministro de Política Territorial says that neither the Supreme Court nor the Constitutional Court «will overturn» the immigration law reform
Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, expressed satisfaction on Thursday after the agreement reached between his Government and the Canarian Executive for migrant minors seeking asylum to enter the international protection network.
Speaking to journalists at the ‘Canarian Immigration Pact’ meeting, he expressed his hope that on Friday, at the Childhood Sectorial Conference, the migration contingency will be declared and there will also be progress in the transfer of migrant minors to other autonomous communities out of the more than 5,600 in the archipelago.
As per the agreement to be sent to the Supreme Court on Friday, a total of 827 minors have already been identified and will be added to the state structure, with around 250 set to be welcomed in Gran Canaria next week.
Torres acknowledged that it has been a «difficult situation» but understands that «the important thing is that even though there may be difficulties along the way,» agreements are reached and there is follow-up for their execution.
The minister praised the efforts of technicians and officials from various ministries and the Canarian Government itself, making it clear that some minors «will stay in the Canary Islands,» in line with the best interests of the child and the regional Executive’s desire to avoid a «double uprooting.»
«Many of them are enrolled in schools, participate in sports teams, engage in social activities, hence the case-by-case response,» he emphasized.
To ensure the proper execution of possible transfers, an inter-administrative committee has been formed with four representatives from each government, which will meet every Tuesday to analyze specific profiles and cases.
The agreement also states, according to Torres, that the State is responsible for financing the care expenses, and each minor will be accepted with the necessary documentation to start the asylum process within a maximum of five calendar days.
COMMON SENSE
Canarias has almost 1,200 migrant minors seeking asylum, and individual interviews will be conducted «with common sense and protecting the minor» to make the best decision, as even though they automatically enter the state network, there is an ensuing process «which may be more or less lengthy» due to various factors.
«This will continue to be done in our territory as in any other, in Canarias or any other community, but every week that inter-administrative commission, in agreement with those who are asylum seekers and transition to the national system, will assess the possibilities we have for each case to be placed in the appropriate location,» he stated.
Regarding the transfer of the remaining minors under the immigration law reform, he mentioned that the delay is not due to the central Government but because some communities have filed appeals to the Constitutional Court or even refused to approve the agenda of the last sectorial conference.
Nevertheless, he is confident that «neither the Supreme Court nor the Constitutional Court will overturn the amendment to article 35 because it is an article that defends human rights.»
