Authorities in the Spanish territory of Ceuta have requested that the government in Madrid declare a national emergency and deploy the army, as thousands of migrants, primarily from Morocco, have crossed into the exclave. Videos emerging from the scene showed large groups of people, including families, navigating the breakwaters and moving through streets and roads.
Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of Ceuta's regional government, cited national security concerns as the basis for his request, emphasizing the need for additional police and military personnel. He stated that these reinforcements are crucial to "guarantee the inviolability of the frontier and citizen safety." Vivas had previously warned that migrant reception facilities were overwhelmed, with hundreds of individuals sleeping on the streets.
The current surge in crossings echoes the border crisis of May 2021, when more than 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta within a two-day period. The recent influx has primarily occurred as migrants attempt to reach the territory by swimming.