Spanish Court Halts New Migrant Shelter in Ceuta

On Wednesday, Spain’s National Court decided to stop the opening of a new “temporary” migrant shelter near Ceuta’s port, which has faced backlash from local residents and scrutiny from a national police union.

The court’s ruling instated an immediate provisional suspension on the camp’s final preparations and the planned opening while a final decision is awaited.

The Spanish socialist government has been establishing several “temporary” shelters in Ceuta to accommodate the many migrants remaining in the North African enclave since a significant surge in late July.

Earlier this month, the Spanish Transport Ministry took control of the Ceuta port and began work on a 16,000 square meter migrant shelter, aiming to house at least a thousand individuals.

Local media had reported the imminent opening of this facility due to the substantial progress in its preparations.

This week, residents staged a peaceful protest against the shelter’s opening. Many expressed concern about its proximity to fuel deposits at the port and its short distance from a nearby school.

Others voiced fears regarding potential impacts on safety, citing a notable increase in violence, sexual assaults, and other crimes linked to the ongoing migrant crisis.

The Unified Police Union (SUP) justified their request for an injunction by alleging that the shelter breaches existing safety protocols and contributes to insecurity for both law enforcement officers and the surrounding community.

As part of the court’s injunction, Transport Minister Óscar Puente has been directed not to proceed with any actions in the area until further examination of the situation occurs. The police union welcomed the ruling, stating it effectively halts a decision that posed serious risks to the area.

“We have successfully paused a plan that raised significant concerns and possible dangers,” the union remarked.

Following the court’s decision, it was reported that the Spanish Unified Police Union had presented a motion claiming that the Transport Ministry failed to notify the establishment of the camp and did not provide necessary information. They mentioned that such details were not published in the Official State Gazette.

The union regarded this ruling as a substantial victory, emphasizing their capacity to influence important decisions through prompt and decisive actions.

In contrast, officials from the Spanish government’s delegation in Ceuta expressed confusion over the court’s ruling, arguing that it undermined a solution that was about to be implemented for migrants currently living on the streets.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente expressed surprise at the ruling, questioning the availability of alternatives for accommodating migrants if the court’s suspension remains in effect.

“Let’s see what we do,” Puente was quoted saying.