Balearic Islands Overrun by New Migrant Route From Algeria
14th November 2025
Spain’s Balearic Islands are facing an unprecedented surge in migrant arrivals as smugglers shift their operations from Morocco to Algeria. In the past two days alone, 19 boats carrying around 360 people reached the Spanish archipelago, defying authorities’ efforts to curb the fastest-growing migration route into the European Union.
According to EU border agency Frontex, arrivals via the Western Mediterranean route—from Algeria to Spain—rose 27% in January-October 2025 compared to the same period last year, even as overall illegal entries into the EU fell 22%. Smugglers are exploiting perceived weaker controls in Algeria and using faster boats, with the Balearics as their main destination. Departures from Algeria now account for 75% of people using this route, up from 40% last year.
The surge has strained local authorities and facilities. Nearly 6,280 migrants arrived in the Balearics between January and October, a 66% increase from 2024. Authorities have been overwhelmed, storing abandoned boats and supplies—life jackets, water bottles, flares—after rescuing migrants from the 300-kilometer sea crossing. With more than 330 boats arriving since January, 2025 has already surpassed last year’s total.