Proposal for mass expulsion of immigrants in Spain worries the UN

AFP

The United Nations warned on Tuesday to Spain that the proposal of the ruling party, Partido Popular (PP), of massively expel illegal immigrants who jump the border fence could end in a violation of international law.

“UNHCR (High Commissioner for Human Rights) are concerned about Spain’s proposal to legalize automatic return of people trying to jump the border fences in their enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla” said agency spokesman William Spindler.

The spokesman said that under this new project, a person who illegally cross the border will be automatically rejected and will not have the guarantees provided by national and European law for anyone to seek asylum.

Spindler also said that 60% of immigrants who have trying to reach Spain via Ceuta and Melilla are from Syria, Central African Republic, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In 2013, 4,200 people entered Ceuta and Melilla by land or sea.