Police in northeastern Spain carried out an eviction order on Wednesday, clearing an abandoned school building that had become home to around 400 migrants.
The Eviction
Early in the morning, officers in riot gear from Catalonia’s regional police entered the school under court orders. The building, located in Badalona north of Barcelona, had been deemed unsafe by judicial authorities. While the operation ended without violence, tensions flared when occupants had to walk past armored officers.
Arrests and Legal Context
During the clearance, Spain’s National Police detained 18 people on suspicion that they were residing in the country without authorization, lawyer Marta Llonch told The Associated Press. The judicial order also required Badalona’s town hall to provide the evicted people with access to social services, though it did not obligate local authorities to secure housing for all squatters.
Voices of Those Forced to Leave
Younous Drame, a 50-year-old man from Senegal who was among those displaced, said, “Putting 400 people onto the street in winter just before Christmas, you have to have a hard heart to do that.” Lawyer Llonch warned that many would end up sleeping on the street. “Many people are going to sleep on the street tonight,” she told the AP. “Just because you evict these people it doesn’t mean they disappear. If you don’t give them an alternative place to live they will now be on the street, which will be a problem for them and the city.”
Background of the Squat
The squat was occupied by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Senegal and Gambia, who moved into the empty school after it was abandoned in 2023. Some lived off the sale of scrap metal collected from the streets, while others had residency and work permits but could not afford housing amid a cost-of-living crunch that has left even working Spaniards struggling to buy or rent homes.
Temporary Housing Measures
The Badalona town hall will offer temporary housing to about 30 people, according to El País. Another 60 people are being attended to by Catalonia’s regional social services, which could also provide temporary accommodation, regional officials told the AP.
Political Reactions
Conservative mayor Xavier García Albiol asked the court to evict the squatters, citing public safety concerns. The town hall had argued that the building was a hazard; a similar incident in 2020 saw a factory in Badalona catch fire, killing four people. After the eviction, García Albiol visited the site and declared, “what is unacceptable in this country is that Spain’s government lets absolutely everyone in.”
Broader Context
Spain has long seen a steady influx of migrants who risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean or Atlantic in small boats. While many developed countries have adopted hard-line stances, Spain’s left-wing government maintains that legal migration has helped its economy grow.
Key Takeaways
- 400 migrants were evicted from an abandoned school in Badalona, Spain.
- 18 individuals were detained on suspicion of unauthorized residence.
- The town hall will provide temporary housing for 30 people; regional services may assist 60 more.
The eviction highlights the tension between public safety, legal frameworks, and the pressing need for housing solutions amid Spain’s ongoing migration and housing crisis.
