Madrid (EFE).- More than half of the irregular immigrants who arrived in Spain by sea between January 1 and March 15, arrived on the coasts of the Canary Islands: 2,178 in 51 boats, which represents a decrease of 60.8% compared to 2022, when 5,552 immigrants reached the coasts of the islands in 116 boats.
In that period, 3,702 people arrived in Spain irregularly, which is 4,521 less than in the same period of 2022 and a decrease of 55%, according to the biweekly balance made public this Thursday by the Ministry of the Interior.
Some data that confirm the downward trend in migratory flows that began in mid-August and continues in 2023.
Most of the 3,702 immigrants who have entered Spain irregularly so far this year have done so by sea: 3,528 in 177 boats, 51% less than in the same period in 2022, when 7,201 people arrived in 276 boats.
Also in irregular arrivals to the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands there has been a decrease, although much less notable, 17.7%, with 281 fewer immigrants than in 2022, since 1,306 people have arrived in 120 boats.
The entries by sea to Ceuta and Melilla have also registered a decrease compared to the same period of the previous year. In the case of the first, 12 people have arrived (7 less than in 2022) and in the second, 32 (11 less than a year earlier).
A total of 174 migrants are those who have managed to enter the autonomous cities by land so far this year -jumping the border fence-, 848 less than in the same period of 2022, since at the beginning of March last year there were two massive jumps over the Melilla fence.
However, there are differences regarding the entrances in each autonomous city. While 179 migrants have entered Ceuta (71 more than in 2022), 27 people have arrived in Melilla compared to the 887 who jumped the fence a year earlier. EFE