The Government of the Community of Madrid gave permission to the manager of the Hortaleza minor reception center to not comply with the legal obligation of 5.5 square meters per person. The decision to grant this exemption validated the situation of overcrowding that always occurs in the center when the cold of the autumn and winter months arrives.

In October 2018, 338% of the occupancy capacity was reached, between 2017 and 2019 the average of 100% was exceeded throughout the year. At the end of 2023 the institution was once again overflowing with children sleeping in bunk beds sandwiched between walls.