The Canary Islands are witnessing a new cycle of intense migratory
influx by sea, coinciding in time with the progression of the
current coronavirus pandemic. Irregular arrivals have increased,
and, after a decade of low arrivals through this Atlantic route,
the archipelago’s reception system was initially insufficient and
highly debilitated. This system now takes on renewed prominence
as the always perilous crossings bring with them a more diverse
range of vulnerable migrants. The institutional response has
had to deal with greater complexity, conditioning the constant
urgency to adopt incomplete and inappropriate solutions in
certain cases, according to many of the evaluations carried out.
The migratory process continues its course and more and more
voices are demanding that a suitable reception strategy be
defined, one based on a model that also integrates the principles
of interculturality and is built with input from all the stakeholders
involved.
