Key facts
- Approximately 49,000 migrants arrived in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in a single day.
- At least 19 bodies were found in the water.
- Spain and Morocco reinforced border controls.
- The influx increased Ceuta's population by an estimated 50%.
- France reinforced its border controls with Spain.
Spain and Morocco reinforced border controls into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after an estimated 49,000 migrants crossed from Morocco over a 24-hour period, a surge that resulted in at least 19 reported deaths. The influx, described as the largest since 2021, significantly increased the population of the enclave, which is home to approximately 83,000 people. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced reinforced border controls with Spain in response to the situation.
Moroccan authorities deployed water cannon trucks and pushed back individuals at the border, while Spanish officials stated their intention to expel illegal entrants as swiftly as possible, despite potential legal restrictions. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was expected to visit Ceuta. Thousands of migrants, primarily young men and adolescents from Morocco and Sub-Saharan African countries, attempted crossings, with security forces intervening.
Spain's Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres suggested that a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling, which may limit the immediate return of intercepted migrants, could have contributed to the surge. The AUGC, a police association for Spain's Guardia Civil, indicated that insufficient police presence was available to monitor the border during the peak crossing period. Local migrant advocacy groups called for a review of migration policies.