Spain has begun installing massive inflatable barriers off the coast of its North African enclave of Ceuta in a bid to halt a surge of tens of thousands of migrants arriving from Morocco. The situation has led to a humanitarian crisis, with at least 67 migrants reportedly perishing during the journey.
Ceuta's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, stated that the number of migrants who crossed into Spain reached approximately 60,000, a figure equivalent to 70% of the territory's population. However, the Spanish government reported that most have since voluntarily returned to Morocco. According to Spain's Interior Ministry, 48,000 migrants have already returned.
Migrants who made the perilous journey, which involved swimming several miles and facing down authorities with water cannons and tear gas, have expressed regret and urged others not to attempt the crossing. "People are dying here. I beg you, please, for those who haven't come yet, don't. Don't do it," one Moroccan man told El País.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the influx as a "violation of Spain's territorial integrity" and blamed human smugglers for deceiving young people and leading many to their deaths. He also condemned the situation as a "catastrophe" and an "invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people," echoing sentiments from U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. State Department released a statement supporting Spain and condemning the incident as a "direct result of the Spanish Government's deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe," a claim the Spanish government has refuted.
The crisis in Ceuta unfolded against a backdrop of a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those crossing by land. Sánchez stated that migrant smugglers misinterpreted this ruling, which spread through trafficking networks and triggered the surge. He also defended his government's broader migration policy, including a recent decision to grant residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants already in Spain, arguing it is beneficial for the economy and demographics. This policy has drawn criticism, with opponents suggesting it encourages further irregular migration.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the images from Ceuta "unacceptable" and emphasized that dangerous crossings must stop immediately, smuggling networks dismantled, and returns conducted swiftly.
Border Security and International Reactions
Spain deployed its armed forces and additional police to restore order in Ceuta, a Spanish territory since 1580. On the Moroccan side, security forces clashed with migrants. The crisis prompted Italy to temporarily suspend its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, reimposing border controls. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced France would also strengthen its border checks with Spain.
Morocco's ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, stated that the situation in Ceuta unfolded against Morocco's wishes, emphasizing a priority for "legal, orderly and safe migration," but did not comment on the specific reasons for the surge.
Migrants also attempted to cross into Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa. In Bni Nsar, the Moroccan town bordering Melilla, migrants clashed with police, throwing rocks and setting vehicles ablaze, according to local media and rights groups.
The 500-meter-long inflatable barrier is a temporary measure, according to Prime Minister Sánchez. The situation has been described as a "serious humanitarian crisis" by Rachid Sbihi of a local workers association, highlighting the plight of thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, sleeping in parks and on sidewalks.
