00:02An accompanied miners who arrived in Ceuta during the mass border breach in July will most likely remain in Spain,
00:09the Spanish youth minister said Monday.
00:11The Spanish government had earlier pledged to return to Morocco those who had illegally entered the Spanish enclave.
00:18Minister Sierra Rego said Spanish law grants underage migrants fundamental protections regardless of their origin or legal status.
00:26She stressed the vast majority have asked to remain in Spain.
00:30Rego added many of the children had fled violence or extreme circumstances, making them particularly vulnerable.
00:38Above 80,000 people illegally entered into Ceuta in July.
00:42Most of them have returned to Morocco, but between 5,000 and 10,000 have remained in the enclave.
00:48Around half are reportedly unaccompanied miners.
00:51Madrid is facing legal hurdles over the return of miners who are entitled to special protections under Spanish law while
00:58the government has pledged to prevent further crossing into the EU's Schengen area.
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