Migrants who recently entered Spain's North African territory of Ceuta have begun urging others from Morocco to remain home, as tens of thousands voluntarily returned following a surge that strained resources and led to fatalities. Spanish authorities have responded by deploying significant security forces and erecting temporary inflatable barriers in the water.
Ceuta's president estimated that approximately 60,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave, a figure equivalent to 70% of its population. The Spanish government reported that the majority of these individuals have since returned to Morocco. The sudden influx triggered a humanitarian crisis, with at least 67 migrants reported to have died during the journey.
One Moroccan man, speaking to the Spanish newspaper El País, described his crossing as a mistake. "I honestly don't know why I came. I am going back, it's that simple," he stated while awaiting border passage. "What we did here is nothing good nor anything fun. People are dying here. I beg you, please, for those who haven't come yet, don't. Don't do it."
Some migrants undertook perilous journeys, swimming miles through the sea and confronting authorities who employed water cannons, tear gas, and warning shots. Drownings and deaths from stampedes near a breakwater barrier were reported.
Spain reinforced its presence with armed forces and additional police to manage the situation in Ceuta, a territory on the Strait of Gibraltar that has been under Spanish control since 1580. Clashes between migrants and security forces were reported on the Moroccan side of the border. The crisis prompted Italy and France to announce plans to tighten controls on arrivals from Spain.
"The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable," said Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, after visiting Ceuta, called the influx a "violation of Spain's territorial integrity" and blamed human smugglers for deceiving and endangering migrants.
According to Spain's Interior Ministry, 48,000 migrants had returned to Morocco. Rachid Sbihi, head of a local workers association for Civil Guard officers, characterized the event as a "serious humanitarian crisis," noting that thousands, including unaccompanied children, were left sleeping in public spaces.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen deemed the images from Ceuta "unacceptable" and stated that "dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow."
US President Donald Trump commented on the situation, calling it a "catastrophe" and an "invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people."
Morocco's ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, stated that the situation in Ceuta occurred against Morocco's wishes, emphasizing the country's commitment to "legal, orderly and safe migration for all."
Prime Minister Sanchez reportedly sent a letter to Brussels highlighting Spain's efforts to reestablish border control, provide aid, and return migrants, noting minimal support from other EU member states. He also criticized proposals to temporarily exclude Spain from the Schengen Area and called for an urgent meeting of EU member states.
Migrants often swim approximately three miles from the Moroccan town of Fnideq to reach Ceuta, or attempt shorter crossings from Belyounech. Spanish authorities have linked the surge to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that restricted the summary deportation of migrants arriving by sea. Sanchez suggested that human smugglers exploited this interpretation.
Earlier in the year, the Spanish government granted residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants already in the country without authorization, a policy that critics argued encouraged further irregular migration. The government, however, defended its policy, distinguishing it from the events in Ceuta.
In response to the crisis, Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain, reinstating border controls. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that France would also increase border checks with Spain.
Migrants also attempted to cross into Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa. Local media reported clashes between migrants and police in Bni Nsar, the Moroccan town bordering Melilla, involving rock-throwing and the setting of police vehicles ablaze.
