Spain has declared a state of "total humanitarian and social emergency" in its North African exclave of Ceuta after more than 1,500 migrants entered the territory by sea in recent days. The influx has saturated local reception centers, with officials reporting that facilities for unaccompanied minors are operating at 2,400% of capacity.
Juan Jesus Vivas, the president of Ceuta, stated on Thursday that hundreds of migrants have arrived by sea, with local television showing them swimming around the frontier and entering the town. He noted that more than 200 people are entering daily, and at this rate, Ceuta could face a situation comparable to the May 2021 migration crisis, when over 8,000 people entered the enclave in a short period.
In response, Spain's Interior Ministry announced that multiple ministries are coordinating to address the situation with speed and efficiency. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is scheduled to travel to Ceuta on Friday to monitor the situation and meet with local officials. The ministry also stated that the government is increasing resources to ensure security, control migration, and provide necessary humanitarian aid to prevent lives from being endangered at sea. Morocco's government is reportedly working closely with Spain to manage the situation, with Moroccan security forces preventing numerous individuals from attempting to reach Ceuta.
Ceuta, along with the neighboring Spanish autonomous city of Melilla, constitutes the European Union's only land border with Africa. Both enclaves periodically experience significant surges in attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe. The arrivals are mainly Moroccans, with a smaller number of Algerians who had been residing in Morocco.
The surge in arrivals has also highlighted legal challenges. Earlier this month, Spain's Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned without due process, a different procedure than for those crossing by land. Vivas has called for reforms to Spain's immigration framework to address legal shortcomings exposed by this ruling.
The exact reasons for the recent surge remain unclear. Some activists have expressed doubt that the Supreme Court ruling is the primary driver, suggesting most Moroccans would be unaware of such legal decisions. The timing of the crossings, following a meeting between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has drawn comparisons to the May 2021 crisis. At that time, Morocco was accused of easing border controls after Spain admitted Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali for medical treatment, causing a diplomatic rift between Rabat and Madrid.