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A total of 31,219 irregular immigrants arrived in Spain in 2022, which represents a substantial 25.6% drop compared to 2021. The data published by the Ministry of the Interior shows that although entry without permission jumped by 77% between January and March last year, the rate of arrivals began to drastically slow down in April.

 

The Ministry attributes this rapid decline to the agreement made between Spain and Morocco on Western Sahara and "cooperation with countries of origin and transit" of migrants, as well as a coordinated fight "against mafias that traffic people".

 

This “double strategy” has reportedly made it possible for the Spanish authorities to immediately apprehend almost 40% of arriving irregular immigrants at source, blocking them from entering the country to seek refuge in the first place.

 

The vast majority of migrants who came to Spain illegally did so by sea and more than half made for the Canary Islands, although arrivals here also fell by 4.7% from September.

 

Likewise, the maritime routes that link North Africa and the Balearic Islands have also reported a significant decline in traffic since March, after beginning the year with two months of significant growth.

 

At the same time, while sea crossings to the Spanish autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla have dropped noticeably, breachings of the border fences skyrocketed by 24.1% last year.

 

In Melilla, where more than 20 migrants died during a mass storming of the Moroccan border in June, 7.6% more (1,175 people) crossed illegally into Spain in 2022. The so-called Melilla massacre was made infamous by a BBC documentary in November and the actions of the Spanish police are still being scrutinised by the European courts.

 

Despite the falling numbers, thousands of people still risk their lives everyday making the precarious journey to Spain and Europe in search of a better life. On Tuesday January 3, the first migrant boat of the year was intercepted in Torrevieja carrying thirteen men from Algeria.

 

Image: Archive