Madrid (EFE).- From January 1 to April 15, 5,208 people have arrived in Spain irregularly, representing a decrease of 44% that rises to 97% in the case of illegal entries through Melilla fence, through which 28 migrants have entered so far this year compared to 929 in the past.
According to data from the fortnightly balance sheet made public this Monday by the Ministry of the Interior, the downward trend in illegal migratory flows has continued to decline for about eight months.
Most of the 5,208 immigrants who have entered Spain irregularly so far this year have done so by sea: 4,940 in 276 boats, 38 less than in the same period when 8,130 arrived in 314 small boats.
Almost half of those who arrived by sea arrived on the coasts of the Canary archipelago: 2,376 in 56 boats, which represents a decrease of 62% compared to 2022, when 6,359 immigrants reached the coasts of the islands in 138 boats.
Also in irregular arrivals to the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands there has been a notable decrease, 48.4%, with the arrival of 2,516 migrants compared to 1,695 last year.
The decrease is even more significant in the land entries in Ceuta and Melilla, especially in the latter, where 28 migrants irregularly crossed the border perimeter compared to the 929 who did so last year.
In the case of Ceuta, the illegal entries until April 15 have been 240, three less than those carried out in 2022.