Lorraine Williamson
In Spain’s increasingly heated debate over migration, far-right party Vox has once again pushed the issue centre stage. Authorities in Madrid this week banned a planned rally outside the Hortaleza reception centre for unaccompanied minors, citing risks of public disorder and potential hate crimes. The decision underscores the fragile line between political theatre and incitement.
Vox has repeatedly seized on crimes involving migrants to frame immigration as a threat to security. Earlier this year, violence erupted in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, after a man of North African origin attacked a 68-year-old local. Consequently, the incident spiralled into street clashes, arrests and anti-migrant rhetoric amplified on social media. Hortaleza, long a symbol of migration’s challenges, has now become the latest backdrop for this strategy.
Why Hortaleza matters
The centre was built to provide first reception for children arriving in Spain without family. In practice, it has struggled for years with overcrowding and poor conditions. At times, three or four times as many minors as intended have been housed there. These pressures have made the facility both a humanitarian concern and a political target.
It is not the first time violence has spilled over. In 2019, far-right groups armed with chains attempted to storm the building. Months later, a grenade was discovered in the grounds. More recently, three teenagers living at the centre were assaulted by masked men, leaving one hospitalised.
The banned rally
Against this backdrop, Vox called a demonstration under the slogan “Neighbour: demand security”, after the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by a resident. Madrid’s Government Delegation blocked the protest, warning it could escalate tensions further.
Vox, however, turned the ban into a spectacle. Dozens of supporters carrying flags and placards gathered nearby. Police corralled them away from the gates, but speeches and slogans – including demands for deportations – were delivered for the cameras. Eight organisers were identified and now face fines for holding what was deemed an illegal rally.
Vox’s message, unanswered questions
Regional spokeswoman Isabel Pérez Moñino accused the government of abandoning Spaniards while protecting “illegal immigrants”. When asked directly about the attack on migrant teenagers, she sidestepped the question, focusing instead on condemning PSOE and PP policies. For supporters, the narrative was clear: migration equals insecurity.
Vox vs Islamic festivals in Aragon
A dangerous pattern
Tuesday’s events highlight how migration centres have become stages for political confrontation. Staff inside Hortaleza tried to shield children with games and activities while chants echoed outside. For the far right, such centres offer a ready-made symbol of grievance.
With migration pressures unlikely to ease, the danger is that isolated crimes or rumours will continue to be weaponised, deepening divisions and putting already vulnerable young people at further risk.
Source: El País