60,000 migrants: Ceuta rush as an “attack” on Spain

Ceuta, located on the coast, is a frequent destination for migrants who want to reach the EU from Morocco. After the recent mass crush, Spain’s government has sent in the military to support the local police.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the influx of tens of thousands of migrants as an “attack” and a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity”. During a visit to the area on the Strait of Gibraltar, he also promised the almost 85,000 residents of Ceuta the support of the entire country: “The whole of Spain is on your side. We take responsibility for this situation.”

According to government information, reported by state broadcaster Radio Nacional, almost 50,000 migrants arrived irregularly from Morocco in the exclave in the past few days. According to the media, most of them arrived between Wednesday and Thursday, mainly by swimming. But many also climbed over the border fences. Many of the arrivals include women, minors and children. According to the latest official information, at least 28 people died in the sea.

The unprecedented rush triggered a serious crisis on Thursday. The Spanish government is deploying the military in Ceuta for the first time since the mass influx in May 2021 to support border security. While visiting the exclave on Friday, Sánchez announced further measures to secure the border.

Sánchez announces concrete measures

For example, swimming buoys are to be installed on the border dam between the coast of Morocco and the beach of Tarajal in Ceuta in order to create a “physical barrier”. In addition, procedures should be accelerated to make it easier to return migrants who entered the country irregularly. “Many migrants are already leaving,” said the head of government, and at the same time emphasized the cooperation with Morocco.

According to Sánchez, the sudden rush to Ceuta is due to rumors spread by the smuggling mafia as a result of a recent court ruling in Spain on immigration. “From our discussions with the Moroccan authorities, it appears that the smuggling mafia has spread an understanding of a Supreme Court ruling that is favorable to them,” he said. This interpretation has “spread like wildfire in the last few hours.”

Sánchez was referring to a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court earlier this month that the immediate return of migrants who cross the border illegally does not apply to those who arrive by sea.