Tensions rise over housing of migrants on Spanish islands
The mayor of a town hosting many of the Africans arriving in increasing numbers on Spain’s Canary Islands is pressing the Spanish government to move into state facilities thousands of migrants and asylum seekers currently staying in hotels
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The mayor of a town hosting many of the Africans arriving in increasing numbers on Spain’s Canary Islands pressed the Spanish government Thursday to move into state facilities thousands of migrants and asylum seekers currently lodged in hotels.
More than 20,000 West Africans and Moroccans have reached the Atlantic Ocean archipelago by boat or been rescued at sea so far this year, up from 1,500 in the same period of 2019. Roughly half came in November alone.
Onalia Bueno, the mayor of Mogán on Gran Canaria island told journalists that the 10 hotels in her area currently housing 3,471 migrants including unaccompanied minors, should be freed up by the end of December when the contract with the central government to house migrants expires.
Bueno has threatened to fine the hotels if they continue to rent out rooms to the Spanish government after December 31.
The government says the hotels are an adequate transitional solution given the plunge in tourism caused by the coronavirus pandemic.