Hundreds of migrants have entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco over the past week, overwhelming the territory's resources and prompting calls for intervention from Spanish authorities. The territory's leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, has urged the Spanish government to act, and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is expected to visit Ceuta on Friday.
Migrants were seen swimming to Ceuta using flotation devices and crossing through a gate in the border fence on Thursday. Ceuta, located on Morocco's northern coast and separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar, is a frequent destination for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Reports on the scale of the influx vary, with Spanish media estimating between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered Ceuta on Thursday, according to Reuters. Spain's public broadcaster RTVE reported "hundreds" crossed into the territory throughout the day and stated that more than 1,500, primarily young Moroccan migrants, had arrived in Ceuta over the preceding two weeks.
Vivas described the situation as a humanitarian and security emergency, noting that reception centers for unaccompanied minors are operating significantly over capacity. In recent months, the bodies of approximately 60 people have been recovered at sea, RTVE reported.
The recent surge is being compared to May 2021, when an estimated 8,000 people entered Ceuta within a few days, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions with Morocco. Spain's enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are the European Union's only land borders with Africa. Despite increased security measures in recent years, including enhanced surveillance and border reinforcement, migrants continue to attempt the crossing.