A piece of news that stirs up debate
In recent weeks, Málaga has been the scene of a phenomenon that has captured national attention. The Juvenile Prosecutor's Office is investigating around seventy cases of foreign minors who allegedly arrived in Spain accompanied by their parents and who, once here, were supposedly abandoned and placed under the guardianship of the child protection system.
The media, with varying degrees of accuracy, have dubbed this situation the phenomenon of “Erasmus unaccompanied minors”, an expression that has generated eye-catching headlines, confusion and an intense social debate.
The term combines the acronym ORE (unaccompanied foreign minor) with reference to the university program Erasmus, In an ironic twist that suggests a “planned arrival” to exploit the protection system, however, beyond the media provocation, the case raises fundamental questions about the functioning of public guardianship, the limits of the system, and, above all, the rights of migrant children.
Between alarm and reality
The first thing to point out is that the reality is more complex than the caricature in the headline. The minors under investigation are not "protection tourists," but children and teenagers who, for one reason or another, have been left without parental care in Spain.
In some cases, there might be a family strategy to ensure a better future for the child; in others, it involves real abandonment or confusing situations in which the child ends up alone, with no one to take responsibility for him.
Whatever the cause, the result is the same: a vulnerable child in need of immediate attention. Under the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and Organic Law 1/1996 on the Legal Protection of Minors, Spain is obligated to protect all children at risk, regardless of their origin or nationality.
This means that, even if misuse of the system is suspected, the duty to protect takes precedence. The judicial investigation can and should proceed, but the child must be taken in and cared for from the outset.
Rights that cannot be questioned
The media noise should not make us forget the essential point: migrant children are entitled to the same rights as any other child.
The principle of equality and non-discrimination (Article 2 of the Convention) and the best interests of the child (Article 3) oblige States to guarantee their comprehensive protection.
This includes the right to education, health, social participation, cultural identity and, above all, a dignified and secure life project.
In recent years, Spain has taken important steps to adapt its immigration regulations to the context of minors under guardianship. Royal Decree 903/2021, which amended the Immigration Regulations, simplified the procedures for obtaining residence and work permits for minors and former wards of the state, thus recognizing their potential for integration and autonomy.
Therefore, rather than a problem of "abuse of the system", the issue should focus on how to ensure that these rights are effectively fulfilled, even in new situations such as those detected in Malaga.
The risk of language: when words label
The use of the term "unaccompanied minor" has been generating debate for years. Originally an administrative category, its repetition in media and political discourse has turned it into a label laden with prejudice.
Adding the surname “Erasmus” now aggravates the problem: it trivializes the migratory phenomenon, makes light of vulnerable children and projects an idea of “exploitation” or “fraud”.
Words create perceptions. When society associates "unaccompanied minors" with danger, expense, or deception, the true nature of migrant children is obscured: children and adolescents who need care, not distrust.
Therefore, language should be a tool for understanding, not distortion. In socio-educational intervention, using correct terminology is also a form of protection.
The role of professionals and the protection system
The educational and social teams working in foster care and protection centers are intimately familiar with the reality behind the headlines. They know that each child has a different story, and that behind every file lie fears, traumas, and hopes.
When a child arrives, regardless of their origin or circumstances, the first step is always to ensure their well-being and safety. Afterward, a long and delicate process begins: assessing their situation, rebuilding their relationships, providing education, supporting them in cultural adaptation, and finally, preparing them for independence.
The phenomenon of “Erasmus unaccompanied minors” poses an additional challenge: how to respond to possible cases of exploitation without violating rights or fueling prejudices.
The system must strengthen its detection protocols, but also its intercultural mediation mechanisms, its training capacity, and its public communication. Transparency and inter-institutional coordination are key to preventing both impunity and stigmatization.
Beyond the case: a matter of social perspective
The debate surrounding unaccompanied migrant children ultimately reveals how a society understands childhood and equality. When the discourse shifts toward fear, suspicion, or irony, it loses sight of the fact that the ultimate goal of the protection system is to provide opportunities and restore rights.
It is legitimate to review procedures, detect abuses, or demand accountability from adults who break the law, but that cannot translate into collective punishment of minors.
Socio-educational intervention plays a crucial role here: humanizing the discourse. It's not just about managing resources, but about constructing narratives that restore young people's names, their history, and their dignity.
Every child who learns a language, finishes their studies, or enters the labor market proves that investment in protection works, that inclusion is possible, and that alarmist headlines don't tell the whole truth.
Our mission: To Protect, Understand, and Educate
The so-called “Erasmus unaccompanied minors” phenomenon has once again brought migrant children into focus, but it should not become an excuse to fuel prejudices or to question basic rights.
Beyond the media noise, what is needed is a calm reflection: migrant children are first and foremost children, and their protection cannot depend on their origin, context, or the current journalistic narrative.
In response to the headlines, socio-educational intervention must be delivered with humanity, rigor, and coherence.
Protect first, investigate later. Listen before judging. And always remember that the language, attitude, and decisions we make as professionals shape the society that those same children will inherit.
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