African migrants trying to reach Europe find that entrance via Spain is the preferable route. The Spanish government says that illegal crossings by boat have decreased by 60% this year, compared to the previous year – about 31,000 illegal immigrants arrived by boat to the Canaries, which lies just 67 miles off the coast of northwest Africa. The plight taken by African migrants has sparked an increasing amount of media attention and concern. Immigrants from Latin America, Eastern Europe, and African now comprise about 9% of Spain’s population – with the majority from Morocco and Romania.

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