SPAIN: Expulsions rise three-fold
01 May 2002
On 25 June 2002 the Spanish Interior Ministry announced that 19,290 foreigners were expelled, denied entry or returned to their countries of origin between January and May 2002. The breakdown of the figures shows 3,643 expulsions (the total for 2001 was 3,817), signalling a three-fold increase from 1,025 compared to the same period in 2001.
The procedure that regulates expulsions means that a foreigner who is arrested in an irregular condition and whose origin is known faces automatic expulsion and the possibility of 72-hour detention. Once expulsion proceedings have started, they may be held in detention centres (CPTs) for up to 40 days; when an expulsion order is issued police must carry it out in 72 hours, during which time an appeal may be filed. Also, prosecutors can ask judges for expulsion orders to be passed in cases involving foreigners accused of crimes punished with prison terms of under six years. The presumption of innocence should prevent expulsion until a sentence is passed. In cases where criminal proceedings involve foreigners accused of crimes carrying longer prison sentences, expulsion may not occur until prison terms are served in Spain.
3,857 persons were denied entry in the same period, an increase of over 1,000, although some foreigners were denied entry due to measures restricting freedom of movement under security arrangements for EU meetings during the Spanish Presidency. Over half the foreigners mentioned in the figures (11,799) were repatriated in line with bilateral readmission agreements between Spain and third countries (Morocco, Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Poland and Romania) whereby the latter take back nationals expelled by Spain.
El Pais 25.6.02