Madrid's Plan for Migrant Minor Distribution

Madrid is seeking alternatives to accommodate migrant minors as part of the reform of the Immigration Law that changes the distribution model of minors among regions. The regional government is exploring ways to create more reception places across the region, with plans to bid for construction work to expand the La Cantueña center in Fuenlabrada, aiming to increase its capacity. However, the expansion will depend on the number of minors assigned to Madrid by the central government and the timing of their transfer.

To plan resources effectively, the region needs to know both the number of minors arriving and the exact timing of their transfer. The central government has already requested data on Madrid’s capacity to determine the number of minors the region will be responsible for. The region has until March 31 to provide this information, though there are uncertainties about whether it should be based on the total capacity of all reception centers or just the first reception centers.

As the number of incoming minors is still being determined, Madrid is considering options for increasing reception capacity. One option is to expand the La Cantueña center in Fuenlabrada, though other alternatives are also under discussion. This could involve creating new centers in other municipalities or urgently contracting temporary residence spaces. These additional spaces are needed due to the forecasted need to accommodate hundreds of children, as current resources are already overloaded, with some centers exceeding 150% of their capacity after receiving 2,442 minors in 2024 and 937 this year.

A technical report dated April 24, 2024, outlines the current capacity of various reception centers in Madrid, including Casa de Campo, Hortaleza, and Vista Alegre. The report also notes that the document doesn't include all available spaces, as new contracts have been signed to address increasing demand.

Furthermore, the president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has indicated that this plan will be challenged in court, following the decree between the Spanish Government and Junts to relocate 4,400 minors from the Canary Islands and Ceuta. The regional government is still reviewing legal options, including possibly taking the case to the Constitutional Court over jurisdictional issues. They are also considering whether to seek a suspension of the decree during the court’s decision or allow the relocation to continue until the ruling is issued. The distribution will not occur until the Spanish Parliament approves the text.