Isabel Caro

Around 60,000 people reportedly crossed from Morocco into Spain’s enclave of Ceuta by swimming or climbing fences, triggering one of the most serious recent migration crises in EU territory. Most later returned voluntarily, but the sudden influx overwhelmed the city, while at least 57 people reportedly drowned. Migrants described hunger, fear, deaths and separation from their families. Spain blamed human-trafficking networks, while residents and migrants criticized Morocco’s economic conditions and handling of the crisis. Moroccan forces reinforced the border and used water cannons as clashes, fires and property damage were reported.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the arrival of nearly 50,000 migrants from Morocco into Ceuta as an attack and a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity, blaming people-smuggling mafias for exploiting a Supreme Court ruling on repatriations. At least 57 people reportedly died while crossing the Tarajal border. Spain deployed maritime barriers and focused on repatriations, while Sánchez thanked Morocco for its cooperation. The opposition People’s Party and European conservative figures accused the government of mishandling migration policy and demanded legal changes to permit border pushbacks by sea.