Spanish journalist Vicente Vallés has called for a revision of Spain's legislation on unaccompanied migrant minors, arguing foreign children should be returned to Morocco.
Writing on September 2, 2026, Vallés argued that Spain's protective legal framework forces authorities to process every youth individually through a slow bureaucratic system, preventing prompt returns even when Morocco requests them back.
Vallés challenged the assumption that overcrowded Spanish reception centers provide a better environment for abandoned children than returning them to their families and government in Morocco. He stated that if a child asks not to return or parents fail to claim them, responsibility for their welfare rests with Moroccan authorities rather than Spain.
Slow Bureaucracy and Border Crises
The commentator highlighted the contrast between complex administrative rules and mass border crossings. He noted that thousands of youths have entered Spanish territory simultaneously during border operations that the Spanish Prime Minister previously described as an attack.
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city located on the coast of North Africa, sharing a land border with Morocco. Along with Melilla, it serves as one of only two land borders between the European Union and the African continent, frequently experiencing heightened diplomatic tensions and migration pressures.
Vallés pointed to what he called an inconsistency in the current situation. He stated that Morocco allowed children to cross into Spanish territory without mercy, resulting in drowning deaths, yet now demands their return while Spanish law hinders the process.
Political Context and EU Policy
In his piece, Vallés described Spain as extraordinarily generous in its political and social policies. He pointed out that Spain permits a political party linked to former terrorists who have not apologized to hold seats in parliament and influence government decisions.
He added that the government has issued pardons and amnesties to political figures who attempted to break up the nation and promised to do so again, while subsequently negotiating investiture agreements with them to maintain governance.
Vallés also noted that Spain has approved mass regularizations of migrants despite objections from European Union partners, while maintaining strict legal protections for unaccompanied minors arriving at its borders.
Ethical Questions on Child Custody
Raising ethical concerns beyond statutory law, Vallés questioned whether Spain displays an attitude of superiority by retaining foreign minors who have families in their home country. He asked whether Spanish citizens would accept another nation retaining a Spanish child under similar circumstances.
While emphasizing that existing laws protecting vulnerable minors must be obeyed, Vallés concluded that Spanish lawmakers should revise the legislation for future cases to ensure administrative rules reflect human ethics and parental responsibility.
