The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, has sent a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calling for the arrival of migrants in Mallorca to be addressed at the next High-Level Meeting between Spain and Algeria, scheduled for October. Galmés is calling for measures in countries of origin to reduce irregular departures and greater cooperation with the Algerian authorities regarding unaccompanied migrant children.

The president of the Consell has also asked to be informed of any agreements reached during the bilateral meeting that could have a direct impact on Mallorca. His requests include strengthening cooperation with Algeria to identify the families of migrant children in Mallorca and obtain the information needed to consider their possible return with all the necessary legal safeguards.

“When there are families who can take care of them, family reunification and returning to their home environment should be a priority“, Galmés said.

The Balearics overtakes the Canary Islands in irregular arrivals for the first time

Galmés pointed out that, for the first time, the Balearics has overtaken the Canary Islands in the arrival of irregular migrants. “The Algerian route to the Balearics is the fastest-growing in Europe and also, unfortunately, the deadliest“, Galmés said.

For this reason, the island president has also reiterated his request for the Spanish Government to ask the European Commission to deploy Frontex in the Balearics, with the aim of combating criminal networks and preventing more people from risking their lives during the crossing. Galmés maintains that the migration route between Algeria and the Balearics has reached a scale that requires greater intervention from the Spanish Government. “The situation is unsustainable and Mallorca cannot continue to deal alone with the consequences of being an external border of Spain and the European Union”, he said.

Irregular immigration in Mallorca also has direct consequences for the island’s child protection system. Since the beginning of 2026, 226 migrant children without family members have arrived on the island and, according to the Consell, the centres are experiencing 1,000% overcrowding.

The institution recalls that on 29 October 2025 it had already asked the Spanish Government to initiate procedures to consider the return of children under the guardianship of the Institut Mallorquí d’Afers Socials (IMAS) and to provide information about their family circumstances. According to the Consell, it received no response to that request.

Migrant boats in Mallorca also cause problems for municipalities

arrival of migrants in Mallorca

Guillermo Sánchez, Councillor for Social Welfare; Llorenç Galmés, president of the Consell de Mallorca; and Guillem Mas, mayor of Ses Salines, visit the storage facility where eight migrant boats have accumulated. Photo: Consell de Mallorca.

Galmés announced that he had sent the letter during a visit to Ses Salines, one of the municipalities most affected by the arrival of migrant boats in Mallorca. Together with mayor Guillem Mas, he visited the storage facility where eight migrant boats are currently awaiting removal by the Spanish Government Delegation.

The accumulation of migrant boats in Mallorca also poses a problem for municipalities, which have to bear the cost of removing them from the water. The Consell also warns of the environmental risk when vessels become stranded or fuel spills occur.

Galmés travelled to Ses Salines after the mayor called for assistance with a problem that, according to the Consell, has intensified in recent weeks.