Thousands of protesters took part in two demonstrations in the Canary Islands on Sunday against irregular immigration with banners such as ‘We have reached our limits’
In demonstrations on Sunday in the city of Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria and in the city of Santa Cruz on the island of Tenerife, thousands of people rallied against illegal immigrants. Despite the enormous risks to their lives, more and more migrants are venturing across the Atlantic, which is estimated at 1,500 kilometers.
Holding banners that read, among other things, “The Canary Islands have reached their limits”, the demonstrators appealed to the Spanish government to stop the arrival of migrants crossing the Atlantic by the thousands to reach the Canary Islands from the west coast of Africa.
Thulema Ruith Granado tells Reuters TV about immigration at the demonstration in the capital of the island of Gran Canaria: “We are not racist, we have shown too much solidarity, we welcome everyone who enters the country and we believe that they have rights that they have not fought for. I think there’s a limit to everything and it’s not fair that the Canary Islands always bear all the burdens.”
“Legal immigration is essential”
The regional authorities of the Canary Islands publicly admit that they are now managing refugee flows with difficulty. In 2023 the number of immigrants arriving in the Canary Islands reached 40,000. This year, last year’s record is expected to be surpassed. According to local authorities, by October 15, 32,878 migrants arrived irregularly by sea in the Canary Islands.
Demonstrator Bienvenido Aleman Medina emphasizes: “They don’t fit into our society, they don’t have the same values, they don’t treat women the same way as Europeans. We are equal, have a number of social rights and claim to solve social issues for the well-being of all, regardless of gender. And it turns out that people come here, who because of their culture have nothing to do with us.”
Despite the fact that the numbers of irregular migrants crossing the Atlantic are clearly lower than the migratory flows in the Mediterranean, the migratory flows to the Canary Islands have been increasing rapidly in recent years.
A former immigrant also takes part in the mobilization in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. 67-year-old Antonio Santini told AFP television: “I am an immigrant. But I came here with a work contract, in the context of family reunification. What many don’t seem to understand is that immigration is necessary, but it must be legal. It’s better for the immigrants and for us.”
Sources: RTRTV, AFPTV, AFP
Source :Skai
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