The role of the detention centres is to detain foreign nationals in irregular stay humanely with a view to achieving their return in the shortest possible time or granting them access to the territory when required by the regulations, in compliance with the regulatory, legal and international provisions and standards in force.
The detention, the regime and the functioning of detention centres are defined by the Law of 15/12/1980 on the access to the territory, residence, settlement and removal of foreign nationals and the Royal Decree of 02/08/2002.
The law stipulates the reasons for which the administrative detention of certain persons in detention centres may be decided and the maximum duration of detention.
The purpose of detention is to ensure the effective removal of persons who have been refused entry to or residence in the territory.