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Spain Deploys Troops To Ceuta After Thousands Of Migrants Cross From Morocco
Spain has deployed troops to reinforce security in its North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants crossed into the territory from Morocco, overwhelming local authorities and prompting fresh concerns over border security.
The Spanish Interior Ministry said the armed forces would support the Civil Guard in maintaining order and carrying out any additional duties required to restore security in the enclave.
The latest surge comes after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be immediately returned to Morocco. Spanish authorities accused human trafficking networks of exploiting the ruling to encourage undocumented migration.
At least 15 people reportedly drowned while attempting the dangerous sea crossing. Thousands of migrants entered Ceuta by swimming around the border jetty after sliding down embankments into the water, leaving beaches littered with flotation devices and other belongings.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Ceuta and has pledged to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. Local officials say migrant reception centres have exceeded capacity and criticized Madrid for not responding sooner to the growing number of arrivals.
Ceuta’s regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, described the influx as overwhelming and appealed for urgent intervention from the central government.
The incident has also sparked political tensions within Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government is considering extraordinary measures, including reviewing Spain’s participation in the Schengen open-border system, arguing that uncontrolled migration poses a security risk to Europe.
Spain rejected the remarks, with Foreign Minister José Luis Albares accusing Italian officials of politicising migration and calling for European solidarity rather than partisan rhetoric.
Spanish media estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants entered Ceuta during Thursday’s crossing, although authorities have not officially confirmed the figures. Reports also indicated that Moroccan security forces used water cannons near the border town of Fnideq to discourage further crossings.
The latest influx has drawn comparisons with the 2021 Ceuta migration crisis, when around 8,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave within days, straining relations between Spain and Morocco. Ceuta and Melilla remain the European Union’s only land borders with Africa and continue to serve as key migration routes despite heightened security measures.
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