The Spanish government has apologized to the residents of Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa, for the migrant crisis that has strained the city for weeks. Defence Minister Margarita Robles expressed regret, stating that the government has "apologize[d] to all those who may have felt, or who even still feel, abandoned or not sufficiently cared for."
At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, according to government figures. Many of these migrants swam around the border fence. Ceuta's mayor, Juan Jesús Vivas, reported that at least 100 people died during the mass crossing.
While the majority of the migrants returned to Morocco within hours, several thousand remain in Ceuta. Many of these individuals are children, and most are sleeping rough on beaches and streets. The city, which has a population of 84,000, has struggled to cope with the situation, leading to mounting pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialist government.
In response to the crisis, the Sánchez government has declared a situation of interest for national security in Ceuta, centralizing the management of the response. Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres has been appointed to coordinate the efforts, taking over responsibility from the Ceuta local government. The government also announced plans to overhaul the country's immigration laws.