La ministra Saiz y el papa León XIV visitan ‘Las Raíces’, uno de los Centros de Primeras Llegadas del Ministerio de Inclusión en Tenerife

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, and Pope Leo XIV visited the Center of the Roots, a center where emergency humanitarian attention is given to the people who arrive on our shores. During his official trip, Elma Saiz also accompanied Pope Leo XIV in his meeting with immigrants in the port of Arguineguín (Gran Canaria). The Minister has also visited several Ministry reception centres in the Islands.

“At a difficult political moment at a global level, Spain proves every day to be a deeply supportive society,” said Elma Saiz with Pope Leo XIV at the Emergency Reception and Referral Center of Las Roots, in Tenerife. “Our response to migratory flows is based on something essential and shared by its sanctity: ensuring dignified and humane humanitarian attention to those who arrive in situations of extreme vulnerability.”

Minister Saiz and Pope Leo XIV have toured the facilities of this first arrival center that was put into operation in 2021 and in which more than 54,000 people have already been served.

In addition to getting to know first-hand the work that is done in the center, managed by the entity Accem, the minister and Leon XIV have had the opportunity to talk to some of the users. “The Roots is a meeting point, a space where we offer from the institutional and the human a first opportunity”, explain the workers. “Estamos hablando de seres humanos en situación vulnerable que buscan un futuro mejor”.

In this sense, Pope Leo XIV has recognized the work that is done with people who arrive at shores in centers such as Las Roots. And he has appreciated the joint effort of institutions, entities and volunteers to offer them a dignified treatment and a space of first reception.

In her speech, the minister emphasized that “Spain is committed to a responsible migration policy, which combines humanity and orderly management to preserve human rights. We are aware that this is a global challenge that requires more cooperation and more co-responsibility, and for that we appreciate the support and position of the Holy Father as a moral reference.”

“Our immigration policy is inspired by three principles: humanity, regularity and coexistence. We are a country of emigrants and also a host country,” said Saiz. “Millions of Spaniards had to leave in other times looking for work, freedom or a future. And today, millions of people come to our land with that same hope: to contribute, to work, to build and to be part of it.”

Center of the Roots: a humanitarian reference

Las Roots is the most capable host on the island of Tenerife and has 600 workers whose main task is to cover the basic maintenance and accommodation needs of the people who arrive and to provide professional support throughout the process of staying in the device.

“Thanks to the collaboration between administrations, social entities and citizens, we have turned Las Roots into a reference for reception and humanitarian attention,” said Minister Elma Saiz.

Among the specific objectives of The Roots, it is to detect and address situations of special vulnerability, such as gender violence. In addition, information, guidance, advice and social and technical support are provided in different areas: legal, health, psychosocial, etc.

On the other hand, it works so that users acquire basic tools that favor their future inclusion process and improve their emotional situation, such as learning Spanish. Para conseguirlo, se organizan talleres que ahondan en dinámicas de inclusión social.

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has in the Canary Islands a network of emergency and reception devices managed through the Secretariat of State for Migration. These resources are mainly structured in First Arrival Centres, such as Roots Centres, Temporary Assistance Centres for Foreigners (CATE) and Emergency Reception Centres (CAED).