The government delegate of Melilla, Sabrina Moh, announced the transfer of eleven migrants from Venezuela, Colombia, and Mali to reception centers on the peninsula. These migrants were previously staying in temporary camps near the Cetti center, as their asylum applications could not be processed.
When addressing journalists, Sabrina Moh explained that this measure was taken as an «exceptional solution» given the circumstances at hand.
The government delegate further elaborated on the coordination with all relevant ministries to find this exceptional solution, ensuring that all requirements and regulations were met to process the migrants’ cases in the best interest of all parties involved.
Moh emphasized that while this was an exceptional measure, the protocol and criteria for admitting migrants must be respected, especially to provide coverage for those in need of asylum.
Regarding the reception center, Moh highlighted the importance of providing initial assistance to vulnerable individuals, particularly those arriving by land or sea without resources and seeking asylum.
«We must be clear about our objectives, goals, and available resources in the city to fulfill our responsibilities at all times,» Moh concluded.
The government’s decision comes a week after the autonomous city of Melilla, under Juan José Imbrod, denied entry to migrants for several days.
The local government, despite not having jurisdiction over asylum requests, decided to offer protection and shelter in response to heavy rainfall following the denial of entry.
This humanitarian gesture underscores the local administration’s commitment to ensuring the reception of migrants, especially when the government delegate failed to fulfill this duty.
On Sunday, March 2nd, the migrants were left stranded near Cetti. Due to the online asylum application system implemented on February 27, 2025, the center was unable to process protection or international asylum requests, leading to the migrants’ displacement from the peninsula. These individuals from South America and Mali had sought asylum in Melilla due to appointment scheduling issues.
Juan José Imbroda, the president of the autonomous city of Melilla, criticized the government’s «inhumane decision» to abandon fourteen asylum seekers from Latin America and Mali.
On Friday, March 14th, the government delegate, Sabrina Moh, announced the exceptional measure of transferring these migrants to reception centers in unspecified provinces, given the circumstances at hand.
