Tens of thousands of people from Morocco collectively crossed into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, over a period of about two days, overwhelming Spanish authorities. The influx, described as the largest in recent memory, saw many of the arrivals, mostly young men, return to Moroccan territory within hours.
Abdulah Buji, a 21-year-old aspiring teacher, was among those who rushed to Ceuta upon hearing the border had been breached. He expressed a desire for a better future in Spain, stating, "Spain gives you the chance to make your future, not like Morocco." However, his brief time on Spanish soil was met with the reality of potential detention and expulsion, leading him to return to Morocco. "I’ve spent perhaps 14 years studying, but there’s nothing at home, and I’d have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage," Buji told The Associated Press. "That’s why I came here, but I haven’t found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back."
Of the approximately 60,000 people who crossed between Thursday and Friday morning, an estimated 45,000 had returned to Morocco. The massive influx constituted about 70% of Ceuta’s resident population, prompting local authorities to call for increased police and military presence to restore order. Residents expressed concern over the thousands of predominantly young men walking through the streets.
This event echoed a similar, though smaller, migration crisis in 2021 when Moroccan border controls were reportedly relaxed, allowing several thousand individuals into Ceuta. The current situation represents a significantly larger humanitarian challenge.
Social media played a role in encouraging the mass crossing, according to Myriam Cherti, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford’s Centre on Migration, Policy and Society. Posts circulating online provided information on how to cross and what to say to authorities to increase the chances of being allowed to stay. Cherti noted that for many migrants, these attempts stem from desperation, failed attempts to build a life elsewhere, and a sense of obligation to support their families.
Ahmed Karim, 33, who crossed into Ceuta without work, highlighted the difficulties Moroccans face in finding employment and traveling abroad. "Many Moroccans want to go to Europe or America, but they don’t have the opportunity," he said.
Some individuals were not seeking new opportunities but searching for missing loved ones. Ikrra Khai, 33, who holds a temporary work permit for seasonal farm labor in Spain, was in Ceuta looking for a friend's brother. "I don’t know if he is dead or alive," she said. "I have his residency card. But I don’t know where he is. I’m searching."