Originally from Nicaragua, Engels Rojas and his family had to leave their country, after receiving threats from the regime of Daniel Ortega, in power since 2007. First exiled in Costa Rica, they were then welcomed as refugees by Spain , few months ago.
“We were not offered a country, they explained to us that it was possible to leave Costa Rica, and to have a job offer. But they told us that it is the host country that decided”, explains the father of the family.
In May, Spain, Canada and the United States signed an agreement aimed at easing migratory pressure at the American border. Under this agreement, Madrid has committed to welcoming nearly 300 refugee families. Spain, which is one of the gateways for migrants to Europe, is facing migratory pressure.
This year, Spain has faced a record number of migrant entries, with almost 53,000 illegal arrivals between January 1 and December 15. This is 76% more than the same period in 2022, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
“We invest more in the protection of borders than in that of these people who want to request international protection, or any other person who wishes to enter Europe, in order to improve their living conditions. We oblige these people, in Europe, to risk their lives to exercise this right”, explains Daniel Duque, employee of the NGO ACCEM.
In recent weeks, around 10,000 people per day have attempted to cross the southern border of the United States illegally, almost double the numbers recorded before the Covid-19 period.
