An estimated 20,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, overwhelming local resources and prompting concerns about border security. The surge occurred after a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that individuals arriving by sea cannot be immediately forced back without due process, a distinction from those crossing by land.
The migrants, primarily from Morocco and Algeria, were observed swimming to the Spanish side of the border fence separating Ceuta from Morocco. Upon arrival, some migrants were seen attempting to enter local homes. Spanish military units and additional police forces were deployed to the enclave. The influx began Thursday afternoon and continued into the night, with hundreds of people still present at the border in the Moroccan town of Fnideq.
Police unions suggested the Supreme Court's decision created a "pull factor" for migrants, complicating deportations. The Unified Police Union called for immediate reinforcement of border personnel.
Local officials in Ceuta declared a "total humanitarian and social emergency," reporting that reception centers were saturated and facilities for unaccompanied minors were operating at extreme capacity. The president of Ceuta noted that approximately 1,500 migrants had already entered the enclave by sea in recent days. In recent months, 60 bodies were recovered at sea near Ceuta, and on Thursday alone, 18 migrants died attempting the crossing, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry.
Businesses in Ceuta closed early due to the tense situation, with some owners organizing self-defense measures, fearing police resources would be insufficient.
Spain's central government dispatched 200 specialized police officers and 60 troops from the mainland to bolster local forces. The government stated that Moroccan security forces were cooperating to curb departures from their territory. However, some groups, including the police union Jupol, accused Morocco of using migratory pressure as a tool for "political blackmail."
The incident has drawn international attention. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated she would advocate for the suspension of the Schengen Area with Spain, citing concerns about uncontrolled illegal immigration threatening European borders. Her foreign minister echoed this sentiment, criticizing Spain's earlier decision to grant legal status to a large number of undocumented migrants.
The European Union offered operational and financial reinforcements to Spain, including deployment of Frontex, the EU's border force. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged authorities to ensure the rights and dignity of all arrivals were respected.
Spain's Interior Ministry denied claims that the recent influx was linked to the government's plan to regularize the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants, stating that the regularization process has specific residency requirements predating the current situation.
Ceuta, along with Melilla, forms the European Union's only land border with Africa. Both enclaves have historically experienced surges in attempted migrant crossings. Officials expressed concern that the current situation could mirror the May 2021 migration crisis, which saw over 8,000 people enter Ceuta in two days.