The Ombudsman considers that the “national and international legal guarantees” by rejecting 470 at the border people during the attempted massive jump over the Melilla fence recorded on June 24, when at least 23 immigrants died.
In a statement, the institution headed by Ángel Gabilondo advances the first conclusions of an investigation that is being carried out and highlights that on that day “a situation of foreseeable risk was registered in the area in view of the initial development of events”.
The Defender recalls that the Constitutional Court has established that the rejection at the border must contemplate individualized entries with “full judicial control” and complying with international obligations, something that did not happen in this case.
“The rejections were legal”
The Ministry of the Interior has responded immediately to the Ombudsman that all the rejections at the border that took place during the massive jump over the Melilla fence on June 24, in which at least 23 immigrants died, were made “within the strictest legality”.
From the Interior they point out to Efe that, “out of respect for the Institution of the Ombudsman”, and taking into account that the events that occurred are being investigated, “All the rejections at the border that occurred on June 24 in the border perimeter between Melilla and Nador were carried out within the strictest legality.
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Civil Guard sources tell Efe that the number of 470 rejected at the border referred to by the Ombudsman in his conclusions is not “far from” the correct figure. They defend that there were 101 immigrants who stayed in that perimeter “in no man’s land.”
After these explanations, Interior reiterates its condolences to the relatives of the deceased and expresses “its firm support for the work carried out by the State Security Forces and Bodies and specifically by the members of the Civil Guard.” “The State Security Forces will continue to fulfill their mission of protecting the borders of Spain and the European Union against violent assaults, as they have done up to now.“, they make it clear from the ministry, before recalling that all requests for international protection made by people who entered the national territory are being processed through the legally established channels.