Moroccan input helps Spain lower irregular migration

Migrant arrivals to Spain dropped by 42.6% in 2025, after collaboration with Morocco and Mauritania helped reduce irregular migration from the Atlantic Coast to the Canary Islands, according to a report from the Arab Weekly plus agencies on January 3rd.

Spain’s Interior ministry said 36,775 migrants entered the country illegally last year, compared to 64,019 in 2024.

Spain has faced pressure from fellow EU members to control popular migration routes traversing the Canary Islands, often considered as the gateway to Europe.

This year saw a 62% drop in arrivals to the Canary Islands, with Mauritania’s 240 million anti-migration deal with the EU reducing people smuggling and trafficking from the Mauritanian border to the Canaries.

Morocco has also announced similar crackdowns on illegal migration and human trafficking in recent years as part of its growing political relationship with Spain.

EU border agency, Frontex, labelled stronger prevention initiatives in departure countries as a major contributor to the decline in migration to the Canary Islands.

However, critics of the measures believe they force migrants to use dangerous alternative routes to avoid border controls.

Reports of deaths aboard poorly manufactured rafts remain common despite the increases in maritime surveillance.

On June 21st 2023, at least 39 people were feared to have died on route to the Canaries from Morocco.

Spanish NGO, Cominando Fronteras, announced on December 29th that more than 3,000 people died attempting to reach Spain in 2025, including 437 minors.

The group produces its figures from data collected from the families of migrants and official statistics.

Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska has urged for “prevention at the source” to decrease illegal migration.

“We can only reduce irregular migration by establishing comprehensive alliances based on trust and mutual benefit,” he said in a meeting with EU interior and migration officials in November.

Arab Weekly plus agencies, The Guardian, Maghrebi.org, The New York Times