Report strongly condemns condition of Spanish migrants internment centers

A report compiled by four universities published Monday strongly criticized the organization of Spain's internment camps where illegal immigrants are kept for a maximum of 60 days, comparing them to "prisons."

The report looked at the internment camps currently operated in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Las Palmas, Algeciras, Murcia and Fuerteventura, concluding they are guilty of a "massive abuse of human rights" and "little different from jails."

The report highlights "a lack of the implementation of permanent sanitary services, which are limited to attend basic sanitary needs and which are always inferior to those which would be found in a health center."

Meanwhile many people detained in the centers "are vulnerable, especially unaccompanied minors and the adequate protocols to identify them are not followed."

The authors highlight a lack of video cameras to monitor cells and common areas and inmates are rarely informed of their rights.

Finally, the use of mobile phones is forbidden in these centers and inmates have to use coin phones in cabins, many of which do not work correctly, limiting their ability to maintain connections to the outside world and their families.

The report was jointly drawn up by the public universities of Barcelona, Valencia and Valladolid, as well as the private university Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Endit