Key facts
- NGOs allege forced return of migrants from conflict-hit countries.
- Migrants report denial of interpreters and legal assistance.
- Spain's government aims to send most remaining migrants home, mainly to Morocco.
- Over 1,000 migrants remaining are estimated to be from sub-Saharan countries.
- 262 unaccompanied minors have been transferred to mainland Spain since July.
Thousands of migrants who arrived in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in July remain in the city, with concerns raised about their rights as the government seeks to expedite asylum claims and deport those deemed economic migrants. Many of the remaining migrants, including unaccompanied minors, LGBT individuals, and families with vulnerable members, may have grounds for asylum or humanitarian protection, according to NGOs and lawyers.
Charities including Oxfam and Amnesty International have filed a complaint alleging "grave rights violations" in Ceuta, citing forced returns from conflict-hit countries and denial of interpreters and legal assistance. While Spain's government maintains it is managing the situation responsibly and respecting human rights, NGOs claim some migrants have been coerced into returning voluntarily.
The EU's new migrant pact allows for accelerated deportations in emergency scenarios, but current rules require case-by-case assessments. The government estimates over 1,000 remaining migrants are from sub-Saharan countries, whose nationals are granted asylum in over 90% of cases in Spain. Frontline workers suggest the situation in Ceuta highlights the unrealistic 12-week processing limit set by the EU pact, with registration rates and workload indicating the issue will persist well into the summer.