The Spanish newspaper « El País » reported that the Ministry of the Interior has definitively closed the door to using asylum requests as a tool of pressure by supporters of the Polisario Front to embarrass Spain on human rights issues.
The newspaper noted that last week, the final group of asylum seekers was deported to Marrakech-Menara airport.
According to the same source, 10 individuals were deported from Spain through Madrid’s Barajas airport.
The Spanish National Police has also launched an investigation into the escape of four Moroccans from the asylum seekers’ center at Adolfo Suárez Madrid airport, who are suspected to have fled through ventilation shafts.
The police officers are continuing their efforts to track them down.
It is worth mentioning that asylum requests are submitted to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, which often rejects them. Some individuals then turn to the judiciary, which may grant them temporary « stateless » status while their legal situation is resolved.