Nearly half of the so-called “unaccompanied minors” tested in the Canary Islands were ultimately found to be adults, according to a draft European Parliament report that shows how badly stretched the migration system really is.
The document, prepared after MEPs visited Tenerife and Gran Canaria in September 2025, confirms what local officials have warned for years: child protection centres are overwhelmed, deportations rarely happen, and cases linked to migrant boat arrivals almost never lead to charges.
