Spain’s enclave Ceuta raises alarm as thousands cross border from Morocco
Between 1,500 and 2,000 migrants entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco within ten days, prompting regional authorities to declare a humanitarian emergency. The surge follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be returned to Morocco.
Spain's autonomous enclave of Ceuta has experienced a significant influx of migrants attempting to reach Europe from neighboring Morocco. Authorities reported that between 1,500 and 2,000 people crossed the border over a ten-day period, with hundreds more arriving on Thursday alone. Regional President Jesus Vivas declared an "absolute humanitarian and social emergency" and requested that Madrid deploy military forces to restore border control. Spain's Interior Ministry declined to declare a national emergency, citing that such measures do not apply to migration crises, but pledged to provide additional resources to address the situation.
Migrants employed various methods to breach the border, with footage showing groups shouting celebratory phrases as they entered the territory. Many arrived by water using inflatable devices launched from the Moroccan side, while others scaled fences at land crossing points. Migrant rights activist Zakaria Zarroqui noted that the current surge resembles a similar event in May 2021, when approximately 10,000 Moroccan and sub-Saharan youth entered the enclave within days. Zarroqui indicated the situation remained uncontrolled, with people continuing to gather in the Moroccan city of Fnideq in preparation for crossing attempts.
The timing of the surge coincides with a recent Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be forcibly returned to Morocco. A Guardia Civil spokesperson characterized the situation as an "explosion" following the court decision, noting that arrivals had been gradual until that point. Spain's Interior Ministry attributed the increase to people-smuggling networks exploiting the legal ruling to encourage undocumented migration. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was expected to visit Ceuta on Friday to assess conditions. Ceuta and Melilla represent the European Union's only land borders with Africa and regularly experience migration surges.
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