The facility, located in the town of Mácher, within the municipality of Tías, housed thirteen minors who will be transferred to other accommodations. The General Directorate for Childhood Protection has reported that young people nearing adulthood will be relocated to apartments designated for former wards, of which there are five on the island with 25 available places.
“"There are not enough minors to keep a full facility open. This is what we are doing with the departures of minors under Article 35 of the Immigration Law."
The reduction in pressure on the network of resources is attributed to the transfers of children and adolescents to the Peninsula, carried out through mandatory reception agreements between autonomous communities, which has allowed for a restructuring of the reception centers.
This center was the subject of controversy in January 2025 due to allegations of mistreatment. Reports from media outlets such as El País and La Voz de Lanzarote revealed employee accusations of food and water shortages, lack of laundry services, and deterioration of facilities. Images circulated at the time showed empty refrigerators and furniture, with little food.
Workers reported the situation of “helplessness” of the minors to the Government of Canarias and the Prosecutor's Office, and some of them requested sick leave or resigned from their positions, claiming to have received “threats” for speaking out.
The center was managed by the Foundation for the Study and Promotion of Social Action (Fepas), an entity that also managed the controversial La Santa center, also in Lanzarote. The latter closed after a Civil Guard investigation against five of its employees for coercing and threatening young people.
