General

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In recent years, the following numbers of individuals have been subjected to immigration detention:

According to the 2023 Annual Report on CIEs of the Migrant Jesuit Service, published in June 2024, 2,085 migrants were detained in 2023.^[8]

Persons already undergoing an asylum procedure are not detained. However, people who apply for asylum after being placed in detention, both in detention centres for foreigners, called Centros de Internamiento de Extranjeros (CIE), and in penitentiary structures, remain detained pending the decision on admission to the asylum procedure. Thus, CIEs centres are theoretically not designed for the detention of asylum seekers, but rather for the detention of migrants who are found to be living without residence permit on the Spanish territory, or for those who are found to have entered irregularly the Spanish territory, and have to be expelled or repatriated under the Immigration Law. In 2024, 853 persons applied for asylum from CIEs.^[9]

The competent authority to authorise and, where appropriate, annul the placement in a CIE is the Provincial Court (Audiencia Provincial) which has territorial jurisdiction over the place where detention is imposed. Moreover, the arrest of a foreigner shall be communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy or consulate of the person detained, when detention is imposed with the purpose of return as a result of the refusal of entry.^[10]

If the applicant is detained, the urgent procedure will be applied, which halves the time limits for a decision (see Prioritised Examination). The quality of the asylum procedure when the application is made from detention is affected mostly in relation to access to information on international protection, which is not easily available, and access to legal assistance, as communication is not as easy as for asylum seekers at liberty. In addition, several shortcomings are due to the urgent procedure to which applicants are subject, as it hinders access to appeals once the application is rejected, and a subsequent order of removal is applied.

In practice, asylum seekers can also be detained if their international protection needs are not identified or if they have no access to the asylum procedure.

In a report published in November 2024, Amnesty International denounced that in Spain the deprivation of liberty of migrants in an irregular situation is almost automatic, in violation of the obligation deriving from European and national law of maintaining the use of detention as a measure of last resort. In addition, it condemned the lack of any obligation to assess alternative measures, especially in cases of people with special needs or in situation of vulnerability[11].

In Spain there are 7 CIEs which are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior. These facilities are located in Algeciras, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Madrid, Murcia, Tenerife, and Valencia.^[12] It has to be noted that the total capacity can vary according to possible improvements’ works, temporary closures, maintenance works, etc. During 2023, just five CIEs were functioning (Algeciras, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Murcia and Valencia), as the facility in Tenerife was closed due to contruction works, and the one in Madrid reopened in December 2023 following refurbishment.[13]

There have been several developments in 2024 and beginning of 2025 regarding CIEs:

• The construction works of a new CIE in Algeciras continued in 2024. The declarations of the Major of the Municipality, according to which the facility will be the most ‘social and human’ CIE in Spain, raised critics and concerns.^[14] During a visit carried out to the construction site, MEP Miguel Urbán defined the facility as the biggest prison in Europe and compared it to Guantanamo.^[15] The total cost for the construction of the facility – with a capacity of 507 places – has been 22 million Euros and took 10 years.[16] Protests against the opening of the new facility continued in 2024.[17] The Minister of Interior announced that the centre would open before the end of 2024,[18] but at the end of the year the information of its opening during spring 2025 circulated.[19] In mid- December, the Jesuit Migrants Service organised a protest in Algeciras to ask for the closure of all CIEs.[20] The Government foresees to open the new CIE during the first quarter of 2025.[21]
• At the end of March, the Deportations Central Unit at the National Police informed all police stations to suspend the detention of undocumented Moroccan migrants, as deportations to Morocco have been halted—given that the country has not been accepting returns since the beginning of the month..[22]
• In April, the Council of Ministers disposed the urgent construction of a new CIE in the island of Alborán in the Mediterranean Sea, with a budget of 1,300,000 Euros.[23]
• On occasion of the Day against CIEs, the Platform CIEsNO organised a gathering in front of the CIE of Murcia, asking for its closure.[24]
• In its annual report on the situation of CIEs, the Migrant Jesuit Service reported that the majority of the 2,085 persons detained in such facilities during 2023 had strong ties and roots in Spain, i.e. long duration residence permits, family members with Spanish nationality or even EU citizenship.[25] In addition, it underlined that the 57% of those detained at the CIE of Barcelona were freed as return was not possible.[26] Thus the organisation continued to call for the closure of all CIEs.[27]
• In August, the political party ‘Podemos’ called on the Government to close all the CIEs and to release all inmates.[28]
• In October, the High Court of Justice of Madrid condemned the Ministry of Interior for violating the right of providing public information in time on the figures regarding internments at CIEs and for the lack of transparency on the data regarding such a topic.[29]
• In December, the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) admitted an appeal lodged by the Jesuit Migrant Service on the lack of transparency of the Ministry of Interior in relation to figures related to CIEs.[30]
• In February 2025, the political party ‘Junts’ alleged that CIEs would be closed once the competence on migration is transferred from the central Government to the Autonomous Communities. The Government replied by informing it will draft a law transferring the competence on the reception of migrants and refugees to the Autonomous Communities, but not the competence of border management, and thus CIEs would not be closed.[31] Similarly, responsibility for migration lies with the central government, which will continue to retain this competence.[32] At the beginning of March, an agreement was reached, thus PSOE and Junts submitted a law proposal on the delegation of competences on migration to Cataluña, that is the management of CIEs and the forced return of migrants.[33] Different NGOs expressed concerns on the agreement, in particular regarding the risk of differential treatment received by asylum seekers and migrants in Cataluña compared to other part of the Spanish territory.[34]

The 2024 annual report on human rights at Southern borders published by Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía – APDHA underlined that CIEs represent an ineffective measure for reaching its own purpose that is the return of irregular migrants. On the contrary, the NGO considered that currently their existence aims at intimidating migrant population, and at transmitting a message of criminalisation and segregation to public opinion.[35]

In its 2023 annual report, the Spanish Ombudsperson, in its capacity as National Prevention Mechanism against Torture, expressed concerns over the lack of uniformity in the functioning of CIEs, especially in relation to certain conditions and access to rights of inmates according to the facility in which they are detained. ^[36] For this purpose, the body urged to correct such a disparity of treatment as early as possible.

Following an investigation carried out on the CIEs in Spain, Amnesty International called the Government to stop the deprivation of freedom for migration purposes.[37] The organisation also denounced the fact that judges appear to be validate detention orders of irregular migrants at CIEs without considering possible alternatives to detention.

Regarding return procedures, an important decision was issued by the CJEU in October 2020. The Court ruled that, in light of the Immigration Law, Spain cannot expel migrants just for being undocumented, and that expulsion should be carried out only when aggravating circumstances exist.^[38] According to the 2022 annual report of the Public Prosecutor Office, almost half of the deportations of migrants detained in CIEs cannot be executed, thus the body recommended the National Police to carry out deeper investigations prior to detention, as well as to opt for alternative measures as set forth in the Immigration Law.[39] The same conclusion was reached in an article published in April 2023, which also referred to evidence of deportations of persons in need of international protection or victims of trafficking.[40]

Asylum seekers may also be de facto detained in “areas of rejection at borders” (Salas de Inadmisión de fronteras) at international airports and ports for a maximum of 8 days, until a decision is taken on their right to enter the territory. A total of 7,382 persons applied at a border post or transit zone in 2024.^[41]

^{[1] Ibidem.}

^{[2] Ibidem.}

^{[3] Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes, ‘Informe CIE 2019. Diez años mirando a otro lado’, July 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3LjIjtn.}

^{[4] Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes, ‘Informe CIE 2020. Razón jurídica y sin razón política – Anexo’, June 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3GXh451, 5.}

^{[5] Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes, ‘Informe CIE 2021. Territorio hostil. Formas diversas de hostilidad en los CIE – Anexo de Cifras’, May 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/40JQ5Sv.}

^{[6] Defensor del Pueblo, ‘Informe anual 2022 – Volumen I’, March 2023, p. 168, available at: https://bit.ly/3Kcqaf1.}

^{[7] Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes, ‘Informe CIE 2023. Internamiento “muteado”. Personas cuyo sufrimiento queda oculto a la sociedad’, June 2024, available here.}

^{[8] Ibidem.}

^{[9] Ministerio del Interior, Subsecretaría del Interior, Dirección General de Protección Internacional, ‘Avance de datos de protección internacional, aplicación del Reglamento de Dublín y reconocimiento del estatuto de apátrida. Datos provisionales acumulados entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2024’, January 2025, available here.}

^{[10] Articles 60(4) and 62(5) Aliens Act.}

^{[11] Amnistía Internacional, ‘España: La privación de libertad, el oscuro método de gestión migratoria’, 20 November 2024, available here.}

^{[12] Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, ‘Marco Estratégico de Redacción del Programa Nacional de España en el Fondo De Asilo, Migración e Integración para el periodo 2021-2027’, 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3InWb2d, 39.}

^{[13] Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes, ‘Informe CIE 2023. Internamiento “muteado”. Personas cuyo sufrimiento queda oculto a la sociedad’, June 2024, p. 4, available here.}

^{[14] Izquierda Diario, ‘Racismo: El Estado español albergará el CIE “más social y más humanizado”,’ 15 June 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ye22db4y; Viva Jaén, ‘La construcción del nuevo CIE de Algeciras encara su recta final’, 26 October 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mv86x2ux.}

^{[15] Europa Sur, ‘Miguel Urbán denuncia que el nuevo CIE de Algeciras será “un auténtico Guantánamo”’, 26 April 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/bdfyep9z.}

^{[16] El Correo de Andalucía, ‘Diez años y 22 millones de euros después, Algeciras tendrá el CIE más grande de España’, 2 March 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yc7zm5hy; La Voz Digital, ‘El CIE de Algeciras tendrá un coste de 21 millones de euros’, 2 November 2024, available here.}

^{[17] Público, ‘Un nuevo CIE en Algeciras prolonga la política “deshumanizadora” contra migrantes’, 22 June 2024, available here; Europa Sur, ‘Entidades sociales de toda España piden que se pare la apertura del nuevo CIE de Algeciras’, 15 June 2024, available here; El Salto Diario, ‘Algeciras se moviliza contra la apertura inminente de un nuevo CIE’, 13 December 2024, available here; Europa Sur, ‘Una marcha recorre Algeciras contra el nuevo CIE en Botafuegos: “Recorta los derechos a migrantes y refugiados”, 14 December 2024, available here.}

^{[18] Huffington Post, ‘Marlaska asegura que el mayor CIE de España se inaugurará este año’, 17 June 2024, available here.}

^{[19] Campo de Gibraltar Siglo XXI, ‘El macro CIE para medio millar de migrantes abrirá en primavera’, 15 December 2024, available here.}

^{[20] La Voz de Cádiz, ‘El nuevo CIE de Algeciras, el más grande de España, despierta rechazo antes de su apertura’, 2 December 2024, available here.}

^{[21] Europa Sur, ‘El Gobierno fija la apertura del nuevo CIE de Algeciras para el primer trimestre del año’, 4 January 2025, available here; El Salto Diario, ‘El Gobierno abrirá el nuevo CIE de Algeciras antes de abril’, 13 January 2025, available here.}

^{[22] Vox Populi, ‘Marlaska “desaconseja” internar marroquís indocumentados porque se han suspendido las repatriaciones’, 24 March 2024, available here.}

^{[23] Izquierda Diario, ‘CIE en medio del mar: Defensa construirá un centro para migrantes en el islote de Alborán por 1.300.000 euros’, 19 April 2024, available here.}

^{[24] Onda Regional Murcia, ‘Concentración ante el Centro de Internamiento de Extranjeros de Murcia para pedir su cierre’, 15 June 2024, available here.}

^{[25] Público, ‘Más de 2.000 migrantes fueron internados en los CIE durante 2023, la mayoría con vínculos arraigados en España’, 10 June 2024, available here.}

^{[26] El Periódico, ‘El 57% de los internos en el CIE de Barcelona salen libres: “Es un daño innecesario e inútil”’, 11 Juen 2024, available here.}

^{[27] COPE, ‘El Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes pide el cierre de los CIE: “Se les trata como delincuentes”’, 10 June 2024, available here.}

^{[28] Libertad Digital ‘Podemos tensa el problema migratorio y exige a Sánchez cerrar los centros de inmigrantes para dejarlos en la calle’, 9 August 2024, availabe here.}

^{[29] Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes, ‘Una sentencia condena al Ministerio del Interior por no facilitar información pública sobre los CIE’, 15 October 2024, available here.}

^{[30] Europa Press, ‘El Supremo admite a trámite un recurso de SJM sobre la falta de transparencia de Interior en datos de los CIE’, 2 December 2024, available here.}

^{[31] El Periódico, ‘Junts asegura que Catalunya podrá cerrar los CIE cuando tenga las competencias en inmigración’, 5 February 2025, available here; 20 minutos, ‘El Govern dice que se tendrá que “analizar con tranquilidad” si se tienen que cerrar los CIE’, 6 February 2025, available here; El Diario, ‘El Gobierno prepara una ley orgánica que permita a las comunidades gestionar la acogida migratoria pero no las fronteras’, 6 February 2025, available here; Europa Press, ‘Águeda Micó vincula el apoyo de Compromís al pacto PSOE-Junts sobre migración al cierre de los CIE’, 11 March 2025, available here; La Vanguardia, ‘El Gobierno insiste en que la Generalitat no podrá cerrar los CIE ni exigir el catalán’, 12 March 2025, available here.}

^{[32] Europa Press, ‘Saiz descarta un modelo migratorio propio para Catalunya: “La normativa es la misma” en toda España’, 12 March 2025, available here.}

^{[33] Europa Press, ‘Cataluña ejecutará expulsiones y los Mossos gestionarán seguridad en la frontera con Policía Nacional y Guardia Civil’, 4 March 2025, available here; Onda Cero, ‘Qué son los CIE que también gestionarán los Mossos tras el acuerdo de PSOE y Junts’, 4 march 2025, available here.}

^{[34] Europa Press, ‘ONG de migración muestran su preocupación ante el pacto entre PSOE y Junts’, 4 March 2025, available here.}

^{[35] Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía – APDHA, ‘Derechos Humanos en la Frontera Sur 2024. CIEs: espacios sin derechos para migrantes’, April 2024, available here.}

^{[36] Defensor del Pueblo, ‘Informe anual del Defensor del Pueblo 2023: Anexo del Mecanismo Nacional de Prevención (MNP)’, March 2024, available here.}

^{[37] Amnistía Internacional, ‘España: Amnistía Internacional pide que no se prive de libertad a las personas por motivos migratorios’, 20 November 2024, available here; Amnistía Internacional, ‘España: La privación de libertad, el oscuro método de gestión migratoria’, 20 November 2024, available here; Europa Press, ‘Amnistía Internacional denuncia el “automatismo” de jueces para internar a migrantes en situación irregular en los CIE’, 20 November 2024, available here:}

^{[38] Court of Justice of the European Union, Case C‑568/19, Judgement 8 October 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3avGw1H; El País, ‘Una sentencia europea impide a España expulsar inmigrantes solo por estar en situación irregular’, 13 November 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3s9Dkia.}

^{[39] Fiscalía General del Estado, ‘Memoria elevada al Gobierno de S. M. presentada al inicio del año judicial por el Fiscal General del Estado Excmo. Sr. Don Álvaro García Ortiz’, September 2023, p. 1148, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ms9cyha5.}

^{[40] Laura Zanón, ‘Los CIE: instrumentos de sufrimiento inútil’, April 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4ekdvxab, 17.}

^{[41] Ministerio del Interior, Subsecretaría del Interior, Dirección General de Protección Internacional, ‘Avance de datos de protección internacional, aplicación del Reglamento de Dublín y reconocimiento del estatuto de apátrida. Datos provisionales acumulados entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2024’, January 2025, available here.}