Thousands gathered in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday to protest the sharp increase in migrant arrivals by sea, with large demonstrations in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz on Tenerife. The islands, located off northwest Africa, have seen a record number of migrant boats arriving this year as more attempt the dangerous Atlantic crossing to reach Europe.
“We are not racist, we’ve been too supportive, we are welcoming everyone who enters the country,” said demonstrator Zulema Ruiz, who expressed concerns about public safety. “We cannot let our children go out into the street because we’re afraid they’ll be raped or stabbed.”
Another protester, Eugenia Santana, highlighted concerns over the impact on local healthcare and education services. Demonstrators also voiced frustration with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s pro-immigration policies, calling for a more controlled approach.
Spain’s Interior Ministry reports nearly 33,000 irregular migrants arrived in the Canaries by sea so far in 2024, a stark increase over last year’s figures for the same period. Although the Atlantic route is hazardous, it remains a popular path for migrants due to its lighter policing compared to the Mediterranean.