Ceuta migrant crisis: tens of thousands cross from Morocco into Spanish territory

Spain has been forced to deploy additional security forces to Ceuta after an unprecedented surge of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory in North Africa.

Ceuta’s regional president Juan Jesús Vivas said around 60,000 people arrived within 24 hours, describing the situation as "unsustainable" for the territory, which has a population of about 83,600. Spain’s Interior Ministry has given a slightly lower estimate of around 50,000 arrivals since Thursday morning.

Officials also reported that at least 43 people died during the crossing, while thousands of others remain stranded in the enclave. Many of those arriving were young men, although women, children and even babies were also among the crowds. Authorities believe around 7,000 minors may have entered Ceuta during the surge.

The crisis follows a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling stating that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be automatically returned to Morocco, a decision that Spanish officials believe may have encouraged more attempts to cross.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the situation an "attack" and said Spain would return all migrants who had entered illegally "as soon as possible", adding that Morocco was co-operating with repatriation efforts.

Spain has now sent armed forces and additional police officers to reinforce security in both Ceuta and Melilla, the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. Hundreds more attempted crossings were reported overnight in Melilla.

More than 25,000 people have reportedly returned voluntarily to Morocco so far, with Spanish officials saying departures are continuing at a rapid pace.

Ceuta has long been a focal point for migrants trying to reach Europe, but the current influx is far larger than previous surges. In 2021, around 8,000 people crossed into Ceuta during a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco.

European leaders have expressed concern about the developing humanitarian and security crisis, while local residents in Ceuta have reported scenes of chaos and fear as emergency services struggle to cope with the sheer number of arrivals.