A group of migrants left sunbathers on a popular beach shocked after they arrived on a small boat in broad daylight. On Sunday, a dozen men jumped off a dinghy into the sea and swam to the shore of Sotillo Beach in Spain. The migrants, reportedly of North African origin, arrived at the crowded beach packed with holidaymakers at around 2pm local time, before attempting to run away.
The Spanish Civil Guard were quick to take action, detaining a large number of the migrants quickly, although some managed to cross through the town and hide. Witnesses at the scene told the Grenada Hoy that several men attempted to flee from officers by running through the streets and dodging vehicles. The force has confirmed that nine people were arrested on the beach, yet they continue to search for one man.
The chaos unravelled just minutes after the dinghy, which set sail from Morocco, dropped off the group at the Spanish beach, before it quickly disappeared back into the Mediterranean.
Some holidaymakers were seen helping the migrants, while others attempted to detain them until the police intervened.
The arrested group were placed under the custody of the National Police, who transferred them to the Temporary Immigrant Reception Centre (CATE).
The nine men were taken to the port of Motril where they received help from the Red Cross. After providing medical care, the humanitarian charity has reported that all migrants are in good health.
This comes after new research showing that four in every 10 Spaniards supports deporting illegal immigrants, El Debate reports. A survey by Target Point shows that 76% of supporters of the political group Vox believe that illegal immigrants should be repatriated, a position shared by 57% of the People’s Party voters.
Vox has focused its discourse on tackling illegal immigration, with its president, Santiago Abascal, recently demanding “mass deportations of illegals and deportations of those who, although legal, commit crimes”.
“Vox will continue to demand the deportation of all those who enter Spanish territory illegally. And it will also demand the deportation of legal immigrants who come to squat, to steal, to rape or to kill,” he said. “And Vox will also demand the immediate deportation of all legal immigrants who come here to impose extreme religions that belittle women. Vox will continue to point to bipartisanship as responsible for a policy of mass migration.”
The position of the PP (People’s Party) has also hardened on immigration matters. During a speech this summer, the party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated that “an irregular immigrant who commits a crime must be deported immediately”.