SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan. 5 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Provincial Council issued a resolution on December 27 in which it considers it “discriminatory” for the Tenerife Council to request the registry and a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) from migrants who request the Canary Resident Bonus.
In a joint statement from the Venezuela Solidarity Social Association and the FÜNDEC Foundation, it is noted that they filed a complaint last March before the Common Council “alleging arbitrariness
legal and discrimination based on race and nationality” in the face of the changes imposed by the Mobility area in March, when public transportation was already free.
The complaint, processed through lawyer Loueila Mint El Mamy, established that the new access criteria did not clarify “if it is
valid with the mere application for a residence authorization, or with documentation as applicants for international protection or with a study stay without TIE, or with a 6-month receipt because a TIE cannot be issued or with a registration card.” .
Now, in the response, both associations detail, the Provincial Council has recognized that the criteria of the Cabildo of Tenerife that required, among other requirements, to present a valid residence permit, constitutes a violation of the “principle of equal treatment and discriminates against a particularly vulnerable group”.
Furthermore, he considers that the fact that “the same criteria” as the Cabildo de
Tenerife could represent a “comparative grievance” among residents.
For all these reasons, the associations request the “immediate” application of the resolution, returning the migrants
affected equal access to the free bonus starting this year and that the necessary measures be provided for to repair the damage caused by the “discrimination” exercised against migrants since February 2023.
They also ask that all public institutions implement “the most urgent measures to fight against institutional racism” and that this recommendation of the Provincial Council be applied to the agreements between the central government and the Government of the Canary Islands for this year, highlighting that migrants have
right to the free transportation voucher, proving, like any resident of the island, their residence through the registration certificate.