Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, in a statement regarding the irregular migration movement from Morocco toward the city of Ceuta, said that almost all of those who entered have returned to Morocco. In a post on his social media account, Albares emphasized that the integrity of the Schengen Area is fully assured, using the phrase "Put an end to deliberate disinformation."
Albares added that it is not possible to cross from Ceuta and Melilla to mainland Spain without police identity checks.
Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, announced that he spoke by phone with Albares. Brunner stated that during the conversation, Albares reported that as a result of the efforts, "almost all" of the irregular migrants heading to Ceuta had returned. Emphasizing that "not a single person crossed into the EU mainland," Brunner said, "We will maintain close contact and are in communication with ministers across Europe."
What happened?
On Thursday, July 30, authorities intervened as over 800 irregular migrants tried to swim from the shores of the Moroccan town of Fnideq to Ceuta, Spain's territory in North Africa. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the government had mobilized all available resources in response to the incident.
The Spanish government had decided to deploy the armed forces to the area after irregular migration attempts toward Ceuta surged. The government also announced that it is estimated that over 49,000 people crossed into Ceuta by swimming or walking in the last 24 hours.