Las devoluciones en caliente: la questione migratoria europea nei rappor- ti ispano-marocchini

Abstract

Abstract
The ever-increasing influx of migrants from the North African coast is putting a
strain on the ‘nerves’ of the European governments most exposed to these dynamics.

Of particular interest is the case of the notorious Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish territo-
ries located in the Kingdom of Morocco and destination of thousands of desperate

migrants. For years, the Spanish authorities have been collaborating with the Moroc-
can ones to contain the phenomenon, but the objective difficulties arising from such

scenarios have sometimes resulted in questionable practices. In the background of the

relations between the two countries are the devoluciones en caliente, i.e., the ‘hot’ re-
jections exercised by the Guarda Civil against migrants trying to enter the Spanish ter-
ritories illegally. These summary rejections, considered contrary to international law,

are widely criticised by NGOs and others. This contribution aims to reconstruct the
salient features and limits of these devoluciones.