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Spain deploys troops to Ceuta after migrant surge leaves 34 dead
At least 34 people died while trying to cross from Morocco into Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave. Prime Minister Sanchez said 60,000 people had entered the territory, and announced reinforcements of soldiers and police.
Spain deployed additional troops and police to its North African territory of Ceuta after a massive influx of migrants. According to the President of the Autonomous City of Ceuta, at least 34 people lost their lives attempting to cross from Morocco by land and sea.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the area on Friday and met with security officials and local administrators. Sanchez said that around 60,000 people had entered Ceuta in recent days, a number exceeding half the territory's population.
What happened?
Thousands of people crossed into Ceuta by sea and land on Thursday, and entries continued overnight. Officials said most of the dead drowned during the sea crossing, while some perished in a crush at a breakwater fence near Tarajal Beach.
While Spanish security forces dispatched troops and additional police to the area, Morocco also deployed security forces and water cannon vehicles to disperse crowds approaching the border.
Footage from Reuters news agency showed large groups, mostly young Moroccan men but including women and children, crossing breakwaters and advancing onto roads inside Ceuta. Clashes with security forces near the border reportedly resulted in a bus and seven cars being set on fire.
Despite the main border crossing being closed, migrant groups continued to seek alternative routes along the coastline, with some preparing to swim past barriers. Footage taken around 11:30 a.m. Friday showed that entries were still ongoing through the Tarajal Beach area despite reinforced security measures.
Why Ceuta matters?
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city located on the border with Morocco. Together with Melilla, on the North African coast, it forms one of only two land borders between the European Union and Africa. The territory came under Portuguese rule in 1415, passed to Spain in 1580, and remained under Spanish sovereignty after Portugal regained independence in 1640.
Remaining the only European territory on the African continent after decolonization, Ceuta is protected by high border fences, surveillance systems, and the permanent deployment of the Spanish Civil Guard and National Police. Migrants sometimes try to swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq about 5 kilometers away, or attempt the shorter crossing from Belyounech.
Ceuta officials attributed the latest influx to a decision by the Spanish Supreme Court this month. The ruling prevents the immediate return of migrants who arrive by sea and are intercepted, without due process. However, the decision does not cover those arriving by land or crossing the border fence. Some migrant rights activists in Morocco questioned this explanation, noting that most migrants were unaware of the court ruling.
What did Sanchez say?
Prime Minister Sanchez said the government had mobilized all resources to respond to the situation and vowed to protect Ceuta's security. "There had been a roughly 40% reduction in illegal immigration last year; therefore, what happened yesterday disrupted the trend of reducing illegal flows that we have been consistently seeing," he said.
Sanchez described the situation as "unforeseen" and said the government would defend Ceuta "just like Madrid." When asked when the migrants would be returned to Morocco, he replied, "As soon as possible." Sanchez stated that they had spoken with Moroccan officials and stood ready to cooperate, emphasizing the importance of working with countries of origin. Referring to the Supreme Court decision, he said legal changes might be needed "to guarantee the most effective returns at the border."
How political reactions unfolded
The migrant surge increased pressure on Sanchez ahead of next year's elections. Opposition People's Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo said in a post on X, "The situation in Ceuta is desperate. The government cannot look the other way... because we are facing a national security crisis." Ceuta Mayor Juan Jesus Vivas also called on Madrid to declare a state of emergency. The leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, described the crossings as an "invasion" and blamed the Sanchez government.
Other European countries also voiced concerns. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "The images from Ceuta are unacceptable. We cannot allow anyone to enter our Union without respecting our rules. Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled and returns must be swift as our rules permit."
France tightened controls at the Spanish border. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, "I have given instructions to immediately increase checks at the Spanish border," activating rapid-response border units. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said they were ready to take "extraordinary measures" if necessary, stating, "Italy will not just stand by and watch. We are convening the relevant bodies and after these meetings we are ready to intervene with extraordinary measures, including the suspension of the Schengen Area with Spain, to protect borders and the security of citizens."
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani went a step further, calling for "closing the Schengen area to Spain." However, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said such a step was not legally possible, stating, "Under EU law, no member state can unilaterally suspend another's Schengen participation. That option does not exist in the Union's legal architecture." Borrell said the incident showed that some European governments had started to use EU law "in a way that clearly violates the principle of sincere cooperation binding them."
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