Spanish officials said more than 48,000 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco by Friday evening after an unprecedented migration surge brought tens of thousands into Ceuta within about 24 hours. At least 57 people died during attempts to reach the Spanish enclave, according to local media cited by the BBC. [Source 15151]
The scale of the influx was disputed. Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, estimated that about 60,000 people had arrived, a figure equivalent to roughly 70% of the enclave’s population. Spain’s Interior Ministry offered a lower estimate of 50,000 arrivals since early Thursday. Officials said at least 7,000 of those who entered were minors, while the crowds also included women and babies. [Source 15151]
Ceuta, which has a population of about 83,600, lies on the North African coast across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain. Together with Melilla, it forms the European Union’s only land frontier with Africa and has long been a destination for people seeking to enter European territory. Between 300 and 400 crossings were also reported overnight in Melilla. [Source 15151]
Spain sent armed forces to reinforce security in both enclaves after border controls in Ceuta appeared to break down. Some people reached Spanish territory by walking around a jetty near the border fence, while others swam to nearby beaches. The BBC reported that the location and response of Moroccan border guards during the initial crossings remained unclear. [Source 15151]
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the episode as a violation of Spanish territorial integrity and blamed trafficking networks for promoting a self-serving interpretation of a recent Supreme Court decision. That ruling said migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be returned summarily to Morocco. Sánchez said Moroccan authorities were cooperating with returns and that Spain would consider stronger border measures. [Source 15151]
The crisis also prompted a dispute within Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a temporary suspension of Schengen free-movement arrangements with Spain for air and sea travel. The Guardian reported that the measure was expected to involve targeted checks on third-country nationals rather than comprehensive controls on every traveller. Meloni said it was intended to protect national security while limiting disruption to summer tourism. [Source 15150]
Spain summoned Italy’s ambassador after its foreign minister criticised Rome’s response as lacking European solidarity. Other European leaders called for stronger border enforcement, although Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico opposed excluding Spain from the Schengen Area and instead offered personnel and equipment to help protect the EU’s external frontier. [Sources 15150, 15151]
Before the mass arrival, UN data reviewed by BBC Verify recorded 2,826 entries into Ceuta through July 15, plus 181 through Melilla. Those figures had already exceeded the annual totals reported for each of the previous three years. [Source 15151]
