Police say that two boats with a total of 24 individuals arrived at the Santa Lucía wharf in Cartagena on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.
The boat that came on Tuesday, December 9th, had 13 migrants on board, and the boat that came on Wednesday had 11 individuals. The same sources say that more vessels have been seen at sea and that, because the weather is excellent, more arrivals are possible.
Maritime Rescue stopped the barge on the 10th in international waters, a few miles from land. A boat was sent to pull the barge to the dock. The migrants, who looked healthy, got help from Red Cross workers once they were on land. The National Police, the only police unit that can handle immigration issues, were also waiting for them.
According to the rules, migrants are sent to the Temporary Foreigners’ Detention Centre (CATE). They can be let go 72 hours after they arrive because they haven’t done anything wrong (they only entered Spain without permission, which is a minor felony).
They are then given the chance to join the Ministry of Migration’s reception program, but many turn it down, and that’s how they get lost.
A boat carrying a dead migrant and 17 other survivors, two of whom were kids, arrived at the same wharf in mid-November. The dead person was a 28-year-old male from Algeria.
Author: Derek Appleton
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