Moncloa Declares Migration Emergency in the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla
Both the Canary Islands and Ceuta and Melilla have at least tripled their ordinary reception capacity, according to the Spanish Government. Youth and Childhood Minister Sira Rego announced the measure in a Moncloa communiqué.
The Youth and Childhood Minister, Sira Rego, declared on Friday the extraordinary migration contingency in the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, following the formal request from those territories and in line with the protocol approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2025.
Moncloa reported in an official statement that the measure is being adopted after the formal petitions from the regions, once the Council of Ministers approved the Royal Decree on the ordinary capacity of the reception systems.
“After months of work, today we take the definitive step to continue guaranteeing the rights of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children who are currently in these territories,” Rego said, adding that she thanks the societies of the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla for the care they have offered migrant children.
Activating the transfer of migrant minors
The Ministry of Youth and Childhood has declared the extraordinary migration contingency in these autonomous communities after confirming that they meet the requirements set out in Royal Decree‑Law 2/2025. Both the Canary Islands and Ceuta and Melilla have at least tripled their ordinary reception capacity, the benchmark for this declaration.
From this moment on, the protocol approved by the Council of Ministers on 22 July is put into effect. Article 5 of the protocol outlines the procedure for the relocation and transfer of minors in the context of an extraordinary migration contingency, while Article 6 details the actions required to fulfill the Solidarity Response Plan.
Rego also recalled that “the boycott by certain territories has not prevented Spain from being at the forefront of guaranteeing the rights of migrant children.” She added, “In contrast to countries that criminalise the most vulnerable, our government protects them and extends a helping hand.”
Key points of the extraordinary migration contingency in the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla
The government announced the activation of the Migration Contingency Protocol in response to the sustained increase in irregular arrivals. According to the official Moncloa communiqué, the decision is intended to guarantee immediate assistance to minors and vulnerable persons, mobilising extraordinary resources in coordination with the autonomous communities.
The application of this protocol is backed by Royal Decree‑Law 2/2025, which provides a specific legal framework for mass‑arrival situations. The law defines both inter‑territorial cooperation instruments and financing mechanisms aimed at strengthening reception facilities.
The Council of Ministers had already addressed this issue in earlier sessions: on 22 July 2025 it approved the protocol, and on 26 August 2025 it examined the ordinary capacity of the reception system. Both references appear in the official press releases on the Moncloa website, detailing the evolution of the device.