The drive to clear the asylum backlog comes as the EU and the Spanish public pressure the government ahead of a snap election on November 29. While Spain reports 12,000 people have voluntarily returned since mid-August, approximately 7,000 to 8,000 migrants remain in the North African territory. The shift to expedited reviews follows police reports that 70% of recent applicants have claimed sexual orientation as their basis for protection to bypass prior rejected claims based on economic hardship.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Spain Expedites Ceuta Asylum Reviews for Moroccan Deportations
World2 days ago
Spanish authorities are introducing a system of shortcuts for migrant asylum claims to facilitate the return of thousands of Moroccan nationals from the enclave of Ceuta. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government is attempting to categorize most arrivals as economic migrants rather than genuine asylum seekers to accelerate their removal, a move that NGOs warn risks violating basic human rights.
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