Spanish Police Relocate Migrants From Ceuta Beaches to Port Tent Site
Hundreds of migrants were moved from beach encampments to a new facility as authorities sought to manage their presence in the Spanish North African territory.
Police in the Spanish territory of Ceuta began an operation Friday to relocate hundreds of migrants from beach encampments to a new tented site in the port area. The move comes after weeks of migrants living on the beaches in the North African enclave.
Officers encountered difficulties controlling crowds as migrants vied for space at the new facility, which has a capacity for 1,700 people. Reports indicated that police fired shots into the air during the operation, which began around 7:00 AM local time. More than 3,000 migrants had been transferred by Friday, according to the Spanish government-owned news agency Efe.
During the transfer, some migrants broke through police cordons along a designated route to the port. Video footage depicted individuals running as police attempted to maintain order. Over 170 police officers, including drone technicians, were deployed for the operation. Efe reported that the situation was quickly brought under control, allowing the relocation to continue.
The Spanish government initiated this operation as part of an effort to consolidate migrants into designated facilities. This will allow for their identification and provision of care while their administrative and legal statuses are individually assessed.
Most of the approximately 72,000 migrants who entered Ceuta from Morocco in July have since been returned. However, an estimated 13,000 or more remain in the enclave. The situation in Ceuta has been a focal point for migration issues between North Africa and Europe.