Amnesty International (AI) has issued an unusually sharp statement calling on the Spanish government to move the most vulnerable residents of the Centres for Temporary Stay of Immigrants (CETI) in Ceuta and Melilla to mainland Spain without delay.
In its 21 December 2025 briefing, AI says that pregnant women, disabled persons, LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers, victims of trafficking and torture, and families with school-age children are “at heightened risk of rights violations” because the two enclaves’ CETI facilities frequently operate beyond their official capacities of 512 (Ceuta) and 686 (Melilla) beds. The NGO alleges chronic overcrowding, inadequate medical and psychological care, and opaque criteria for deciding who is transferred to the peninsula.
AI also highlights a shift in the profile of arrivals: while Ceuta continues to receive mostly sub-Saharan and Maghrebi nationals who often enter by sea, Melilla now hosts a growing share of Latin-American asylum-seekers who fly in via Madrid or Barcelona but lodge their claims in the enclave to bypass appointment backlogs on the mainland.
![Amnesty International urges immediate mainland transfers for vulnerable migrants held in Spain’s Ceuta and Melilla reception centres]()
For travellers, assignees and HR teams trying to keep abreast of these fast-moving developments, VisaHQ’s Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides real-time guidance on entry rules, humanitarian permits and standard work or residence visas, offering document collection, filing and courier support that can help minimise delays when governmental policies shift abruptly.
Beyond cramped conditions, AI documents claims of “hot-return” pushbacks at sea and unequal treatment once migrants are inside the centres. The organisation argues that Spain lacks a clear legal framework spelling out when transfers must occur, opening the door to “arbitrary and discriminatory” decisions.
For companies with cross-border assignees or mobile workforces, the report is a reminder that humanitarian concerns can quickly turn into political flash-points influencing Spain’s wider immigration agenda. If Madrid responds with accelerated transfers—as it has after previous NGO pressure—corporate mobility managers could see faster national dispersal of workers who obtain humanitarian or other residence permits. Conversely, prolonged inaction could fuel litigation and reputational risks for firms perceived as benefiting from policies deemed abusive.
Practically, relocation specialists should monitor any Interior-Ministry resolutions in coming days; a sudden wave of transfers would shift caseloads to mainland reception networks in Andalusia, Madrid and Catalonia, potentially lengthening processing times for regular residence and work authorisations in those regions. Employers placing staff in Ceuta or Melilla should also review duty-of-care protocols, given the centres’ deteriorating conditions described by AI.
In its 21 December 2025 briefing, AI says that pregnant women, disabled persons, LGBTIQ+ asylum-seekers, victims of trafficking and torture, and families with school-age children are “at heightened risk of rights violations” because the two enclaves’ CETI facilities frequently operate beyond their official capacities of 512 (Ceuta) and 686 (Melilla) beds. The NGO alleges chronic overcrowding, inadequate medical and psychological care, and opaque criteria for deciding who is transferred to the peninsula.
AI also highlights a shift in the profile of arrivals: while Ceuta continues to receive mostly sub-Saharan and Maghrebi nationals who often enter by sea, Melilla now hosts a growing share of Latin-American asylum-seekers who fly in via Madrid or Barcelona but lodge their claims in the enclave to bypass appointment backlogs on the mainland.
For travellers, assignees and HR teams trying to keep abreast of these fast-moving developments, VisaHQ’s Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides real-time guidance on entry rules, humanitarian permits and standard work or residence visas, offering document collection, filing and courier support that can help minimise delays when governmental policies shift abruptly.
Beyond cramped conditions, AI documents claims of “hot-return” pushbacks at sea and unequal treatment once migrants are inside the centres. The organisation argues that Spain lacks a clear legal framework spelling out when transfers must occur, opening the door to “arbitrary and discriminatory” decisions.
For companies with cross-border assignees or mobile workforces, the report is a reminder that humanitarian concerns can quickly turn into political flash-points influencing Spain’s wider immigration agenda. If Madrid responds with accelerated transfers—as it has after previous NGO pressure—corporate mobility managers could see faster national dispersal of workers who obtain humanitarian or other residence permits. Conversely, prolonged inaction could fuel litigation and reputational risks for firms perceived as benefiting from policies deemed abusive.
Practically, relocation specialists should monitor any Interior-Ministry resolutions in coming days; a sudden wave of transfers would shift caseloads to mainland reception networks in Andalusia, Madrid and Catalonia, potentially lengthening processing times for regular residence and work authorisations in those regions. Employers placing staff in Ceuta or Melilla should also review duty-of-care protocols, given the centres’ deteriorating conditions described by AI.
