This marks the first mass expulsion case for immigrants in the Canary Islands since the European Migration and Asylum Pact came into effect on June 12, aiming to tighten conditions and expedite return procedures.
The decision has generated anticipation among lawyers and NGOs, who are monitoring whether the measure falls under the new EU regulations or existing Spanish legislation.
Judicial orders, signed by magistrates Antonio Mazuecos and Antonio Doreste, reference the European Pact as "directly applicable framework," but the primary basis is Spanish Immigration Law. Police requested the internment, the Public Prosecutor's Office supported it, and the judge deemed it "fully justified."
Experts consulted by Efe highlight that the novelty lies in the police's request for internment for expulsion, a rare move due to obstacles in repatriating nationals. According to Eurostat, Spain only managed to expel 5,705 individuals in 2025, while 17,788 arrived in the Canary Islands via boats and cayucos last year.
Sources from the Public Prosecutor's Office confirm that the key factor is the police's confidence that Senegal will accept the forced return of these 82 individuals, influencing the court's proportionality assessment for authorizing internment of up to 60 days.
The order also permits the 82 individuals to remain at the temporary reception center (CATE) in San Andrés, El Hierro, until their transfer to an Aliens Internment Center (CIE). Lawyers question the legality of holding individuals in a CATE beyond the initial 72 hours for identification.
Out of the 87 individuals processed by the court, five were directed to the reception system after proving they were minors through a medical examination at the hospital in Valverde.
