MOSCOW, November 17 (Sputnik) — Around 400 immigrants from Africa have tried to penetrate the Moroccan border into Spain, with only one managing the crossing, El Pais newspaper reported Monday.
The immigrants, consisting of four separate groups, tried to climb over into the Spanish city of Melilla through various parts of the border fence dividing the two countries. However, they were hindered by the Moroccan Auxiliary Forces and Spain's Civil Guards, the newspaper reported.
Immigrants from Africa are known to repeatedly attempt crossings into the Spanish border cities or Melilla and Ceuta. During the last year 64 such attempts have been recorded. Out of the 14,000 immigrants who have tried to cross into Spain over the course of the past year, only 2,000 have been successful, according to El Pais.
Due to the influx of immigrants Spain recently said it would pass a law to legalize on-the-spot deportation at its borders. However, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other international organizations condemned the move, stressing that these people are fleeing conflict and are persecuted in their home countries.
UNHCR stipulated that any law implemented by Spain should be in line with the 1951 Refugee Convention, which recognizes the right of a person to seek asylum from persecution in another country.
The UNHCR also showed concern about the growing use of violence to deter asylum-seekers at the border, referencing images from mid-October which showed authorities using violence to prevent 200 people from crossing the border.
