Interior "does not share" the decision of the Red Cross to renounce assisting migrants in Barajas who ask for asylum

MADRID, 23 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ministry of the Interior has indicated this Tuesday that it respects but "does not share" the decision of the Red Cross to give up working at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport due to the overcrowding situation due to migrants from African countries who request asylum when stopover in the capital.

"The Ministry of the Interior respects the decision made by the Red Cross in the responsibilities attributed to it, but we do not share it," Interior sources have pointed out after learning that this organization has announced its temporary withdrawal from Barajas until the situation in the asylum rooms.

The department headed by Fernando Grande-Marlaska has indicated that "from the first moment" it has defended institutional collaboration as the best way to resolve incidents at the Madrid airport, "which are faced with more guarantees from all levels and with the effort and the cooperation of all the actors involved".

The controversy arises after weeks of police unions denouncing the "overcrowding" of asylum seekers and, in addition, the Court of Instruction number 46 of Madrid responded to the appeal of the Prosecutor's Office and annulled its authorization last week to transfer migrant applicants. of international protection from Barajas to the Aluche Foreigners Internment Center (CIE), understanding that the asylum law had not been respected.

Last Friday from Rabat Grande-Marlaska recognized that there was a "fraudulent" use of documentation to travel from Moroccan cities such as Casablanca, which is why it opened its doors to requesting a transit visa. Interior sources have indicated that they are collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish these transit visas, "if necessary", as has already been done with Kenya since last Saturday.

Interior sources have recalled that the number of National Police personnel and officials of the Asylum and Refuge Office (OAR) has been reinforced in response to the problem at the Barajas border post.

"Given the specific increase in requests, the cleaning of the facilities has been reinforced and, in recent weeks, two new offices have been enabled for conducting interviews, which are added to the three already existing, and a third has been opened room to attend to applicants", they have recalled from the Interior.

The Ministry also points out that they are looking for "new coordination formulas to expedite the procedures for applying for international protection, with full respect for the rights of the petitioners." In this sense, he has announced that this Tuesday the new director general of International Protection will visit the asylum rooms at the airport, accompanied by the second highest person in charge of the National Immigration Police.