In 2024, Spain continues to face significant challenges regarding the influx of migrant children, both accompanied and unaccompanied, who enter the country seeking asylum, refuge, or better living conditions. As one of the main entry points into Europe, Spain’s geographical position makes it a key transit country for migrants. Among the most vulnerable in these migratory flows are children, who often face severe risks, including exploitation, human trafficking, and deprivation of basic rights.
The general context of migration to Spain
Spain, situated on Europe’s southwestern edge, has become a gateway for migrants fleeing war, poverty, and instability, particularly from North and West Africa. Many migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea or enter via the Canary Islands, while others arrive by land through Spain’s enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa (Statista Research Department, 2024). The number of migrants entering Spain irregularly has fluctuated in recent years, but the number of unaccompanied minors has seen a notable increase.
These children typically face long and dangerous journeys, often arriving in Spanish territory after enduring extreme hardships, including perilous sea crossings, long treks through deserts, and, in some cases, falling victim to smugglers or human traffickers (Statista Research Department, 2024). Once they reach the territory of Spain, these children encounter a host of challenges, ranging from inadequate access to education and healthcare to difficulties navigating Spain’s complex asylum and child protection systems (PBS News, 2024).
Rising numbers and the most affected area
From January to August 2024, 31,155 irregular migrants arrived in Spain, which is 66.2% more compared to the same period in 2023 (Spanish Interior Ministry, 2024). While the exact number of minors among them is still not definite, it is feared that, due to this general increase, it will exceed the estimated 5,100 minors who entered Spain in 2023 as irregular migrants, especially having in mind that 1,500 children have arrived to the country during the first four months of 2024 (ReliefWeb, 2024).
By mid-August 2024, more than 22,000 out of the mentioned 31,155 irregular migrants have entered the Canary Islands, which is a 126% increase compared to the same period a year earlier (Spain in English, 2024). The high concentration of migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands, which make up over 80% of Spain’s total, has put immense pressure on local resources and services, especially when it comes to taking care of unaccompanied minors.
The mentioned surge has overwhelmed the region’s reception facilities, which were designed to accommodate around 2,000 minors. At the beginning of August 2024, the Canary Islands were hosting almost 6,000 underage migrants, with the number expected to rise up additionally (InfoMigrants, 2024).
Challenges in care and support for migrant children
Many minor irregular migrants are unaccompanied and need to be systematically taken care of by the local authorities. However, as the local accommodation and care capacities have been largely exceeded, these children cannot enjoy the protection and all the rights that they are entitled to.
The affected regions do not only lack physical space but hiring professionals trained to work with the young migrants has also proved to be a challenge, especially when it comes to finding professionals willing to work on the islands located some 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from mainland Spain (Africanews, 2024). As a consequence, children and teenagers who reach the islands after the journey that has cost thousands of people their lives are not receiving the protections they are entitled to under Spanish and European law, including their basic right to healthcare.
Living conditions and psychological impact

Many of them are living in unsanitary facilities in overcrowded centers, which directly endangers their health. On the island of 2, authorities have set up temporary tents to accommodate the new arrivals, which is far from a decent standard of living that children are entitled to. Cases of abuse and mistreatment have been reported as well. Representatives of the local authorities state that the situation in the Canary Islands is an actual humanitarian catastrophe (Africanews, 2024).
Due to severe trauma, often being separated from or witnessing the deaths of their caretakers and siblings, these children need psychological assistance and intense care. However, once they reach the assumed safety, they find themselves in the chaos of tens of other crying children, unsanitary conditions and overburdened professionals.
An example of a boy from Senegal who was continuously fainting after witnessing both of his parents tragically dying while trying to reach the Canary Islands in a boat and their bodies being thrown overboard in front of the boy paints a clear picture of suffering and trauma these children face, as well as of the situations people working with them handle (PBSNews, 2024).
EU legal protections for irregular minor migrants
The severe situation in the region cannot be treated as solely a national problem. In the European Union (EU), irregular minor children, or those without legal residency status, are afforded protections under several key legal instruments, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), as well as each country’s national child protection laws (Official Journal of the European Communities, 2000).
These regulations emphasize that the rights of the child, including access to education, healthcare, and adequate living conditions, must be upheld regardless of immigration status, and the EU as a whole needs to work on finding comprehensive ways to ensure that the situation in the field matches the existing legal framework.
Spanish legislative efforts and local tensions
The regional Canary Islands government, overwhelmed by the influx, sought national support through a legislative bill that proposed the obligatory distribution of these minors to other regions of Spain. The existing voluntary system was insufficient, as the Islands had already taken responsibility for over 6,000 of the abovementioned unaccompanied minors, far exceeding their capacity. The bill was intended to ensure a fairer distribution of responsibilities across Spain, relieving the Canary Islands’ overcrowded centers (InfoMigrants, 2024).
Despite the efforts, the bill was rejected in the Spanish Congress, leaving mainland Spain obliged only to distribute adult irregular migrants across its territory, while the Canary Islands are to find a way to handle the rising influx of minors to their shores. Local authorities and citizens remain dissatisfied with the situation, which leads to rising tensions between the locals and the young migrants.
There is an ongoing problem of dissatisfied locals accusing minor migrants of crimes, many of which they did not commit. On one occasion, there was even an attempt by the locals to enter the foreign minors’ reception center to confront minors whom they accused of committing an assault (Morel, 2024).
Urgent need for comprehensive solutions
The situation in Spain remains severe, however, some positive steps have been taken. As an example, the EU has allocated 14 million euros to the Canary Islands in 2024 to support their efforts to handle the crisis (Pawlowski, 2024). While financial aid is necessary, more comprehensive migration management strategies need to be implemented.
Spain could amend its immigration laws to provide clearer, more accessible criteria for regularization, reducing bureaucratic barriers that often leave minors in prolonged legal limbo. Additionally, enhanced cooperation among Spain’s autonomous regions would also be crucial, as inconsistent regional practices and unfair distribution of the children within the country prevent them from accessing rights and services all children are entitled to, regardless of their immigration status.
A unified, national approach, through a centralized framework or stronger coordination mechanisms coupled with legal, financial, and operational support of the EU state members could ensure that all regions adhere to common standards. Raising awareness of the situation in Spain and the importance of urgent action in the area is also important, as it can help urge the international authorities to work on answering the situation in an effective way.

At Humanium, we advocate for the well-being of children around the world, including the children who have found themselves in the perilous waves of migration. You can contribute to our cause by donating, volunteering, or sponsoring a child. Your support helps us give vulnerable kids the chance for education, healthcare, and a brighter tomorrow.
Written by Zeljka Mazinjanin
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