Around 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta within a 24-hour period. At least 57 migrants died by drowning or being trampled during the hazardous crossings. Amid the severe crisis, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta to inspect border security and assess the overall situation.
Juan Jesús Vivas, President of the Regional Government of Ceuta, confirmed the death toll of 57 to reporters on Friday. According to regional authorities, large crowds attempted to breach the border fence using land and sea routes, with many swimming across.
Humanitarian Disaster: Rashid Sabihi, a local trade union leader representing Ceuta’s Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a “severe humanitarian crisis.” Thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, are stranded in the open, sleeping on streets and sidewalks.
Causes of Death: Many drowned while crossing sea waters or were trampled during stampedes while scaling the barriers near Tarajal beach.
Clashes and Violence: Moroccan police deployed water cannons at Ceuta entry gates to push back the crowd, triggering fierce clashes with enraged groups.
During his visit to Ceuta, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez categorized the mass border crossing as a direct “violation of national integrity and overall sovereignty.”
Repatriation Process: Sánchez stated that efforts to return unauthorized entrants are being carried out swiftly. Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed that nearly 25,000 individuals have already been returned to Morocco.
State of Emergency Request Rejected: Although Ceuta’s regional government requested a national state of emergency and military deployment, the Interior Ministry turned down the demand. However, the central government pledged to send additional police forces and resources to manage the crisis.
Authorities attribute the sudden influx of migrants to a recent court ruling and misinformation spread by human traffickers.
Earlier this month, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants arriving by sea cannot be summarily deported without due legal process. Prime Minister Sánchez alleged that human trafficking mafias distorted the ruling to spread misleading rumors among migrants. However, local human rights activists expressed skepticism regarding this explanation.
🇪🇺 Widespread European Union Reaction
The border crisis in Ceuta has become a major concern across the European Union:
European Commission: President Ursula von der Leyen declared the situation “unacceptable,” calling for an immediate end to the dangerous crossings and the dismantling of trafficking networks.
Germany & France: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed Spain’s position. French President Emmanuel Macron and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed readiness to assist Spain, including support through FRONTEX (European Border and Coast Guard Agency), while tightening security along France’s border with Spain.
Italy: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend the Schengen Agreement’s open-border policy with Spain in the interest of national security.
