Melilla
In the wake of the recent mass migrant invasion of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located on the North African coast, the leader of the other Spanish enclave on the coast, Melilla, is stating that the autonomous city will oppose any construction of a new migrant reception center. However, the Spanish Interior Minister, Sabrina Moh, denies that such a center is being planned.
Whatever the truth is, the article below in El Independiente is translated by Fousesquawk.
Imbroda announces he will oppose a new center with a capacity for 800 immigrants in Melilla
September 22, 2026 at 17:25
Caption: The president of the autonomous city of Melilla, Juan Jose Imbroda
The president of Melilla, Juan Jose Imbroda, stated on Tuesday that he will oppose, with all his means, the possibility that the National Government will construct a center for identification of illegal immigrants with a capacity of 800 people that would be situated in front of the beach of La Hipica, and where he fears a repetition of images like those on the beaches of Trampolin and BenÃtez in Ceuta ."We refuse categorically, and we will fight wherever we have to fight," Imbroda stated.
Imbroda expressed his rejection of the construction of a new temporary stay center for immigrants (CETI) with a capacity of 800 people, considering that the city already has a facility with these characteristics and is demanding that the central government (adopt) a migration policy based on the return of those who enter Spain illegally.
In a statement to the press, Imbroda expressed himself as being "totally surprised" by the announcement of a new center and questioned the migration policy that the national government intended to apply. "If there is already one, the CETI, why do they want another? But what is the migration policy they intend to follow? Accept everybody who enters without returning anyone to their country of origin?" he asked.
The president of Melilla has maintained that, if this policy is continued, more reception centers will be necessary, over and over again, the actions of the Executive, which, in his opinion, is carrying out a policy "without order, without foresight", and without "effective" measures to expedite the removals, according to Europa Press.
In this regard, he has demanded legislative changes that would permit the acceleration of deportation procedures for illegal immigrants to their countries of origin, along with an increase in human and technical resources for migration control.
Imbroda also referred to unaccompanied foreign minors, and, while guaranteeing corresponding protection for minors, argued that mechanisms should be established for their return with their families when appropriate.
The president of Melilla gave as an example, the situation in Ceuta, and warned that "thousands and thousands of immigrants" cannot be maintained without offering a solution.
Therefore, he has announced the city government will oppose the project of a new center in Melilla, and will resort to whatever means considered necessary to try and prevent its construction.
"Of course, we categorically reject it, and we will fight as far as we can fight and we will go wherever we have to go," Imbroda affirmed, insisting that, in his judgment, the priority should be to reinforce available measures and modify legislation to accelerate the returns.
The Melilla president concluded by describing the national government's migration policy as "erratic" and spoke of the "absolute failure" of the Executive in this matter.
The government denies it
For her part, the delegate for the (National) Government, Sabrina Moh, ruled out the construction of a new center for immigrants in Melilla on Tuesday. "The Interior Ministry has not announced any new Temporary Immigrant Center (CETI), nor will there be any other immigrant reception center," she stated. "There already exists one that is fulfilling all the existing necessities," she clarified.
The leading representative of the Government of Spain in our city also made it clear that no Defense Ministry land will see the construction of infrastructure of these characteristics. In this regard, it was stated that the president of the Autonomous City (Melilla), Juan Jose Imbroda, "won't have to go anywhere to oppose something that doesn't exist."
Moh accused the Popular (Party) leader of using this question to generate tension, divide the citizenry, and divert attention from the problems caused by the management of the local government. "Mr Imbroda needs his own Temporary Detention Center for Foreigners (CATE) to cover up the disastrous management of the Popular Party in Melilla, " she stated.
Among these problems, the minister cited, as examples, the water supply cutoffs that the city suffers, the lack of street cleaning, and the absence of transparency in the hiring of information officers.
"As long as we are talking about CATE, we are not talking about the fact that in Melilla, we don't have running water 24 hours a day in the 21st century," Moh emphasized, directly blaming this situation on the management of Imbroda.
The minister argued that the Defense Ministry lands should be put to use in the service to the citizenry and be used to respond to their needs, referring to infrastructure for dependent persons, training centers, public housing, and areas for the use and enjoyment of the population.