The Mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, has urged the Spanish government to take urgent action following the rescue of over 230 migrants in three boats near Lanzarote in less than ten hours. He expressed concerns about the growing number of migrant arrivals and called for a stronger response to immigration issues and relations with Morocco.
De León linked the influx of migrants to a recent crisis in Ceuta, warning that the Canary Islands could face further pressures if the central government does not implement new measures. He highlighted Lanzarote’s geographical proximity to the African coast, making it a key entry point to Europe.
“This massive arrival of migrants is showing citizens that the only fortified location is La Mareta, where Pedro Sánchez and his entourage are,” stated de León. He pointed out that 245 migrants arrived in the span of a few hours, stressing that the central government has not provided resources to return them to Morocco.
The Mayor also criticized the Spanish Coast Guard’s practice of conducting rescues in waters close to Morocco and then transporting the rescued individuals to Lanzarote. “Coastguard vessels are going into Moroccan waters and bringing the rescued to Arrecife, even though there are nearer ports in Morocco,” he said.
De León called on Prime Minister Sánchez and his ministers to increase diplomatic pressure on Morocco and to take direct measures to manage the situation. He insisted that more effective intervention is crucial to address the immigration crisis in Lanzarote and the broader Canary Islands.
