Spain’s government has ordered the relocation of thousands of unaccompanied migrant minors from the Canary Islands to regions across the country, triggering protests from conservative leaders who accuse Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of using migration as a political weapon.
Under the decree, the Canary Islands will transfer minors to multiple regions, but Catalonia and the Basque Country are exempt because they are governed by separatist parties whose votes Sánchez relies on to keep his coalition in power.
Meanwhile, PP-led regions such as Andalusia, Madrid, and Castilla y León say they are being unfairly targeted, with local facilities already overwhelmed and residents worried about security and costs.
The latest escalation came from Brussels. Estrella Galán, an MEP for Sumar—Sánchez’s far-left coalition partner—submitted a formal question to the European Commission accusing several Spanish regions of “failing in their legal obligations” by resisting the relocation scheme. Galán urged the Commission to intervene and enforce compliance with the Spanish decree under the banner of “European solidarity” and children’s rights.
Spain’s Supreme Court has already ruled that it is the central government’s duty to handle the reception of minors in the Canary Islands. Instead of fulfilling that obligation, Sánchez’s cabinet shifted the burden to the regions and is now seeking EU enforcement.
The figures show the scale. Andalusia alone must take in 2,827 minors, almost double its available capacity. Madrid, Castilla y León, and Valencia also face large quotas, prompting officials to announce legal challenges.
Catalonia and the Basque Country, however, are spared entirely. The government cites “regional competencies,” but opponents call it a political favour to separatist allies whose votes keep Sánchez in power.
Beyond politics, the impact on local communities is real. In neighborhoods such as Hortaleza in Madrid, the arrival of large numbers of minors has been linked to rising crime.. Police unions warn resources are stretched thin and the situation is becoming unsustainable..
The financial burden is also heavy. Each minor requires between €3,000 and €4,000 per month for accommodation, social services, and security. For Andalusia, taking nearly 3,000 additional minors could mean well over €100 million annually in extra costs, with no infrastructure in place to handle them.
Some note that each minor costs the same as sending a Spaniard to a prestigious private university, arguing the issue is priorities, not resources.
By appealing to the European Commission, Sánchez’s allies risk dragging EU institutions into Spain’s internal political disputes. Galán has asked the EU executive whether regional resistance violates European law and what measures it will adopt to ensure compliance.
Thus, the same European institutions that often struggle to respond to genuine migration crises could now be drawn into policing Spain’s internal disputes.
Opponents argue the plan is about political survival, not humanitarian duty, pointing to quotas imposed on opposition-led regions and exemptions granted to separatist allies as proof.
