Mallorca seeks help as 503 migrant children need care

Mallorca’s child-protection system is caring for 503 unaccompanied migrant children, passing 500 at the same time for the first time. On 18 September, the Consell de Mallorca called on Spain’s government for more resources and coordination. The children are under the guardianship of the Instituto Mallorquín de Asuntos Sociales (IMAS), the island body responsible for child protection.

The Consell said 226 children without family support had arrived in Mallorca since the start of 2026. It said arrivals had accelerated in recent weeks and were 625% higher than in 2019.

Centres under extreme pressure

Guillermo Sánchez, president of IMAS and Mallorca’s councillor for social welfare, called the 500 mark alarming and worrying. He said the island’s protection system had collapsed and that the situation was getting worse.

According to Sánchez, the centres are dealing with overcrowding of more than 1,000%. He praised staff for working in increasingly difficult conditions to protect the children and safeguard their welfare.

Call for action from Spain

The Consell linked the rise to a stronger migration route towards the Balearic Islands. It said the archipelago now receives more irregular arrivals than the Canary Islands, shifting pressure towards the western Mediterranean route and directly affecting Mallorca’s child-protection system.

Sánchez called for immediate action from the state, saying Mallorca protects every child who arrives but cannot carry the burden alone. The Consell said IMAS has activated all available resources and is working to provide dignified, safe and appropriate care despite the extreme overcrowding.

Topics: Migration · Social affairs · Politics

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com