Spain reports control over migration crisis in Ceuta after return of over 48 thousand migrants

According to Spanish police, approximately 49,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighboring Morocco in a single day. This influx is one of the largest migration flows in the North African region in recent years.

Migrants reached Ceuta both by land and by sea. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior reported that footage appeared online showing people swimming along the coast or using inflatable rings, while others crossed the damaged border crossing.

In response to a petition from local officials calling for a state of emergency, the Spanish government dispatched 60 soldiers and 200 specialized police officers from mainland Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also plans to visit Ceuta with the Minister of the Interior to personally assess the situation and meet with security service personnel and municipal authorities.

The situation took a fatal turn: local authorities reported finding nine migrant bodies on Thursday, increasing the total number of deaths related to attempts to enter Ceuta in recent months to 60.

Violence spread from Ceuta to Melilla, another North African enclave of Spain, where reports of fights and the burning of three vehicles resulted in numerous injuries.

Madrid promised to deport migrants who entered the country illegally and accused human trafficking networks of manipulating a recent court ruling that hinders the prompt return of migrants found at sea.

These new events increase pressure on Spain, demanding a solution to the surge in migration along the country's southern border, as it must balance humanitarian concerns with ensuring border security.

A growing crisis is unfolding on the border between Morocco and Spain, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 migrants, while thousands of people have gathered near the border attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

After a large number of people crossed the border from Morocco and poured into the small Spanish settlement, Spain deployed military forces there. It is expected that the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, will join the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during a visit to Ceuta on Friday.

Rashid Sbikhi, head of the local association representing Civil Guard officers, characterized the situation as a 'serious humanitarian crisis.' He reported that people continue to arrive, and the reinforcements that arrived are exclusively engaged in assisting the wounded and supporting other humanitarian efforts.

Sbikhi also noted that thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied minors, are homeless, forced to sleep in parks and on sidewalks, while others wander the streets aimlessly, which he described as a 'chaotic' state. He specified that many of the 18 victims drowned, while others died in a crush while trying to cross the fence along the breakwater at Tarajal beach.

On Thursday, video footage showed crowds of people, most of whom were Moroccans, moving from the breakwater area at Tarajal beach towards local roads. Although most appeared to be young men, the crowd also included families with women and small children.

Some of them chanted 'Viva España!' in front of an unattached photographer working for the Associated Press (AP). The photographer observed clusters of people on the Moroccan side of the border trying to enter Ceuta, as well as other individuals returning from Ceuta back to Morocco.

It is unclear what caused such a large number of migrants to decide to cross the border into Ceuta, and Moroccan authorities have made no public statements about these crossings, nor has the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior responded to requests for comment.

Although the number of arrivals was increasing, the main reasons remain unclear. This escalation on the border between Spain and Morocco followed a mass influx of migrants, most of whom were trying to reach the small Spanish enclave by swimming on Wednesday.

Previously, Ceuta authorities linked this surge in numbers to a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court made at the beginning of this month, which prohibits authorities from immediately deporting migrants arriving by sea without due legal procedure. However, this decision does not apply to migrants entering Spain by land, including those crossing the border fence. Nevertheless, some activists in Morocco doubt that this court ruling is the main cause of the wave, arguing that most migrants are unaware of such legal provisions.

The consequences of this chaos have also affected Italy, another major destination for migrants. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend the Schengen Agreement with Spain to protect her country's borders and ensure public safety, despite Italy having no land border with Spain.

Spain serves as the main entry point for migrants arriving in Europe, whether seeking better economic opportunities or fleeing violence in their home countries. To reach the city of Ceuta on the North African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan city of Fnideq, covering about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to Spanish territory, while others try to cross from the nearby town of Melilla, where the distance is shorter.