World news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-08-20 · by Stephen Burgen in Barcelona
The Spanish government has reversed its policy and will allow approximately 500 migrant children in Ceuta to relocate to the mainland due to a duty of care obligation under Spanish law. The move comes after an estimated 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta on July 30, with most returning to Morocco since then. Under EU law, all irregular migrants, including unaccompanied minors, should be returned to Morocco, according to the European Commission's internal affairs spokesperson. However, Spain's own legislation on treating unaccompanied minors remains in force despite the EU pact, contributing to mixed messages among politicians and parties.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On August 13, Spain's interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that anyone who entered the Spanish territories of Ceuta or Melilla in north Africa without authorization would be sent back to Morocco. However, just before 500 migrant children were about to face this fate, the government announced a reversal of policy and will now allow these children to relocate to the mainland. This decision is significant because it acknowledges Spain's duty of care towards young, unaccompanied migrants under its law, which requires the state to provide for them until they turn 18 years old. The majority of the approximately 70,000 people who crossed into Ceuta on July 30 have already returned to Morocco.
Written for “Spanish Immigration Policy Change” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.55 for article 1449 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-21
The Spanish government has U-turned and said it will allow 500 migrant children in Ceuta to relocate to the mainland.
asserted
children → - → mainland
The majority of the estimated 70,000 people who crossed into Ceuta – a Spanish territory on the coast of north Africa – on 30 July have returned to Morocco.
asserted
who → estimate → Morocco
However, under Spanish law, the state has a duty of care to young, unaccompanied migrants until they reach the age of 18.
asserted
they → have → 18
On 13 August, the interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, had said: “Anyone who illegally enters Ceuta or Melilla [another Spanish enclave in north Africa] knows they will be sent back because Spain and Morocco work together to this end.
asserted
Spain → say → end
They will not reach the peninsula, nor the European continent and nor will they remain indefinitely in Ceuta or Melilla.
asserted
they → reach → Ceuta
”
The transfer of the children to the Spanish mainland is a sensitive political topic as several regions governed jointly by the conservative People’s party and the far-right Vox are reluctant or opposed to receiving their quota.
asserted
regions → govern → quota
To minimise conflict, the youth ministry, in coordination with the Ceuta government, is devising an urgent plan under which NGOs and child protection agencies take charge of the most vulnerable children, girls in particular, without transferring their guardianship to Spain’s regional governments.
asserted
NGOs → minimise → governments
Rubén Pérez Correa, the secretary of state for children, has been in Ceuta since Sunday in an effort to resolve a situation in which hundreds of children are living on the street and existing on handouts from Ceuta residents.
asserted
hundreds → resolve → residents
News of the government’s plan came only hours after the European Commission said that under EU law all of the migrants should be returned to Morocco.
asserted
all → come → Morocco
Asked to clarify, the commission’s spokesperson on internal affairs, Markus Lammert, said that by law all irregular migrants remaining in Ceuta should be sent back, “including unaccompanied minors”.
asserted
migrants → ask → minors
The People’s party has rejected the government plan, saying the best place for the children is with their families.
asserted
place → reject → families
“If Morocco has asked for the children to be returned and if Europe says the illegal immigrants should all be returned, whether children or not, what more does the government need?” the People’s party deputy finance spokesperson, Juan Bravo, said in a television interview.
asserted
government → ask → interview
The mixed messages partly derive from the fact the latest European pact on immigration has not yet been incorporated into Spanish law and therefore Spain’s own legislation on the treatment of unaccompanied minors remains in force.
asserted
legislation → mix → force
According to Spain’s ministry of inclusion and migration, as of last March 21,104 people aged 16-23 were under guardianship of the state, of whom about 3,500 were under 17.
uncertain
3,500 → accord → 17
Girls made up about 8% of the total.
asserted
Girls → make → total
