Spanish enclave of Ceuta raises alarm as thousands cross Morocco border

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing its staff, Reuters and The Associated Press, reported that authorities in Ceuta, Spain’s autonomous enclave on the North African coast, sounded an alarm after a sharp rise in crossings from Morocco. The Ceuta government said Thursday that an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people had entered over the previous 10 days, with hundreds more believed to have arrived the same day. Regional President Jesus Vivas described the situation as a major humanitarian and social emergency and asked Spain’s central government to deploy troops to regain control of the border.

According to the report, some migrants reached Ceuta by sea from the Moroccan side using inflatable devices, while others crossed by land, including by climbing border fences. Footage and agency reporting described people moving around breakwaters and onto roads after reaching the enclave. Spain’s Interior Ministry declined to declare a national emergency, saying that mechanism does not apply to migration crises, but said additional support would be provided.

The surge comes after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled earlier in July that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be sent back to Morocco. A Guardia Civil spokesperson told Reuters the crossings had increased gradually after the ruling before intensifying Thursday. The Interior Ministry said it was coordinating with Moroccan authorities and accused smuggling networks of taking advantage of the legal change.

Ceuta and Melilla are Spain’s two enclaves in North Africa and form the European Union’s only land borders with Africa, making them frequent focal points for attempted migration into Europe. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was expected to visit Ceuta on Friday to assess the response.