Moroccan minors in Ceuta and Melilla: ODT opposes forced returns

Friday 14 August 2026 - 08:48

By: Azzat Manal

Moroccan minors in Ceuta and Melilla: ODT opposes forced returns

The Democratic Labour Organization (ODT) has strongly opposed any forced return of Moroccan minors currently in Ceuta and Melilla, calling for the protection of children and respect for fundamental rights to remain at the center of migration policies.

In a statement, the Moroccan trade union stressed that minors must have access to protection procedures and, where applicable, the right to seek international protection or asylum. It also highlighted the principle of non-refoulement, which seeks to prevent people from being returned to places where they could face persecution, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment.

The ODT argued that the protection of children should not be treated as a political concession or a privilege. According to the organization, legal and humanitarian obligations must apply regardless of the administrative status of the minors concerned.

The union also warned against the use of migration as a political or electoral issue in Spain and Europe. It criticized rhetoric that could contribute to fear, racism or hostility toward migrants and rejected proposals advocating collective detention or the forced grouping of Moroccan migrants ahead of possible deportations.

ODT Secretary-General Ali Lotfi raised particular concerns about minors who have no parents or relatives capable of receiving them in Morocco. He called for clear mechanisms to ensure their safety, accommodation and social support if returns are considered.

The organization also warned that decisions concerning Moroccan minors could have broader European implications if other countries, including France and Germany, adopt similar approaches to the return of unaccompanied minors.

Rather than relying exclusively on security measures, the ODT called for a broader migration policy addressing the social and economic factors that contribute to irregular migration. These include poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and limited opportunities for young people.

The union also advocated stronger international cooperation, safer and legal migration channels, improved education and professional integration programs, and greater efforts to combat human trafficking networks while distinguishing victims from those responsible for criminal activities.

The ODT maintains that the migration debate should remain grounded in human dignity and the rule of law. For the organization, the situation of minors in Ceuta and Melilla should be addressed through a humanitarian and rights-based approach rather than through political calculations.