The far-right Spanish party Vox has called for the closure of the La Purísima center for unaccompanied foreign minors in Melilla, urging that the children be returned to Morocco. During the latest general session of the local assembly, Vox was the only party to vote against the center's maintenance contract, signaling its refusal to support the facility politically or financially, according to Spanish media reports. This stance puts Vox at odds with Spain's international obligations, particularly those under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires signatory states, including Spain, to uphold the best interests of minors, regardless of their nationality or legal status. Vox's leader in Melilla, José Miguel Tasende, declared: «As a Vox deputy in the assembly, I will not agree to spend even a single euro to extend the activities of the La Purísima center. We demand an organized closure, the return of minors to their families, and absolute priority for Melilla's social needs. This is logic and justice». The party argued that the center neither serves the minors' best interests nor meets the city's real needs, claiming that the current system only prolongs their stay and facilitates their eventual transfer to the Iberian Peninsula once they reach adulthood. Vox further asserted that maintaining this «massive center» prevents minors from returning to their families and drains human and financial resources that, in its view, should instead benefit local residents. In response, the Ministry of Social Policies defended the contract, stating that it «ensures the continued employment of 130 staff members and provides essential care for nearly 100 minors».
