Ceuta, Spain – Spain has deployed military personnel to reinforce security in its North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco in one of the largest border surges in recent years, leaving at least 15 people dead.
The Spanish Interior Ministry announced that the armed forces would support the Civil Guard in restoring order and maintaining security following Thursday’s unprecedented influx, which overwhelmed local authorities and migrant reception centres.
According to officials, thousands of migrants swam around the border jetty separating Morocco from the Spanish territory after border controls appeared to break down. Beaches on the Spanish side were littered with rubber rings, flippers and other personal belongings as exhausted migrants celebrated reaching European soil.
However, the dangerous crossing turned tragic, with at least 15 people reportedly drowning while attempting to reach Ceuta. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
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The surge comes just weeks after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or the nearby enclave of Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco. Spain’s Interior Ministry accused human trafficking networks of exploiting the ruling by encouraging undocumented migrants to attempt the crossing.
“The armed forces will reinforce the Civil Guard in the exercise of its duties and any other actions necessary to maintain security in the city of Ceuta,” the ministry said in a statement.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Ceuta to assess the situation firsthand and has pledged to restore normalcy as quickly as possible.
Local authorities say the city is struggling to cope with the sudden influx. Ceuta’s regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, described the situation as overwhelming and urged Madrid to provide immediate assistance.
The crisis has also sparked political tensions across Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government is considering extraordinary measures, including the possibility of suspending aspects of the Schengen open-border agreement with Spain.
Writing on social media platform X, Meloni described images from Ceuta as “striking” and warned that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a serious threat to Europe’s border security. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed similar concerns.
Spain swiftly rejected the criticism. Foreign Minister José Luis Albares accused Italian officials of politicising migration, describing their remarks as inappropriate and calling instead for European solidarity in addressing the crisis.
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Meanwhile, Moroccan authorities reportedly used water cannons near the border town of Fnideq in an attempt to prevent more migrants from entering Ceuta. Reports also emerged of clashes near the Beni Ansar border crossing in Melilla, Spain’s second autonomous enclave in North Africa.
Although the exact number of migrants who entered Ceuta has not been officially confirmed, Spanish media estimates suggest between 2,000 and 3,000 people crossed into the territory on Thursday.
The latest incident has drawn comparisons with the May 2021 migration crisis, when approximately 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta over a period of days, straining diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco.
Ceuta and Melilla remain the European Union’s only land borders with Africa and have long served as key entry points for migrants seeking access to Europe. Despite increased surveillance, stronger border barriers and enhanced cooperation between Spanish and Moroccan authorities in recent years, attempts to cross into the enclaves continue.
Authorities in Spain are continuing efforts to restore order while humanitarian agencies provide emergency assistance to newly arrived migrants.
