79% of migrant minors in Extremadura, Spain were adults, age tests show

79% of the 'unaccompanied minors' in Extremadura were adults according to forensic tests

The president of the regional government of Extremadura, María Guardiola, revealed in the regional assembly that of the 329 age tests carried out by the Extremadura Health Service, 79% determined that the migrants were clearly over 18. The figure, unknown until now, means that 260 people were occupying resources intended for minors. The number raises the question of the economic cost of a system that, it is argued, is designed for a very different user profile from the real one.

The cost of an administrative racket

The management of the reception centres has been singled out as a source of runaway spending. Some analyses suggest that the rental prices of the buildings and the workers' salaries are inflated, and that part of those funds ends up in the hands of local politicians. Similar patterns have been detected in Catalonia, suggesting the problem is not exclusive to Extremadura.

The debate over the reliability of the tests

While President Guardiola defends the forensic tests as an objective tool, some voices argue that physical appearance should be enough to treat someone as a minor. However, the test data — which, according to the Extremadura government, are backed by the Public Prosecutor's Office — indicate that most of those claiming to be minors are in fact adults. The discrepancy between perception and forensic evidence is at the heart of a controversy that shows no sign of being resolved.

With these numbers, the pressure on Extremadura's social services is soaring. The question left hanging is how much longer a system that, according to the data, is being massively used by people who do not meet the requirements can hold up.