18 people drown in Ceuta migrant crisis at Spanish border
At least 18 people have died at the time of reporting attempting to swim from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as thousands of migrants overwhelmed border security, El Pais reports.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is travelling to the North African city on Friday to oversee the emergency response. Sanchez and Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas are expected to release a joint declaration detailing further security measures following their meeting. The unprecedented surge prompted the Spanish government to mobilise army units to support Guardia Civil officers who are struggling to manage the influx.
Since the crisis began late July, between 1,500 and 2,000 migrants have successfully crossed the border. The situation escalated significantly on Thursday when a continuous column of people stretching for five kilometres approached the Moroccan town of Fnideq before rushing the Tarajal breakwater.
The crossing began with dozens of people early in the morning but rapidly spiralled out of control by midday, completely overwhelming Moroccan police forces stationed along the border. Security forces later recovered the bodies of 18 individuals who drowned or suffered asphyxiation while trying to swim around the border fence.
Operational collapse in Ceuta
Local infrastructure in Ceuta has collapsed under the sudden population increase. Hundreds of young migrants were seen sleeping in public parks and street corners on Friday morning. Vivas appealed to Madrid for a national emergency declaration, noting the impossibility of managing the situation without extraordinary mechanisms. The conservative Popular Party warned that the arrivals could eventually surpass 40,000.
Police unions warned of a complete operational collapse, describing the current crisis as far worse than the previous major border breach in May 2021. Officers on the ground reported that they lacked the personnel and material resources necessary to secure the perimeter safely. In response, authorities closed the nearby Melilla border following a separate attempt to breach the perimeter at Beni Enzar.
Meanwhile, Spanish law enforcement faces limitations following a recent Supreme Court ruling determining that immigration law forbids the immediate expulsion of migrants intercepted at sea. The influx has also triggered demonstrations, with hundreds of Ceuta residents taking to the streets to protest the massive arrivals from Morocco.
Diplomatic tensions
The migration wave has sparked a diplomatic row within the European Union. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares summoned the Italian ambassador after Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani threatened to suspend the Schengen agreement with Spain over the crisis.
The European Commission offered immediate operational and financial reinforcements. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner confirmed Brussels is considering the deployment of the Frontex border agency to assist Spanish authorities. The European bloc maintains ongoing negotiations with Rabat to halt the irregular crossings, while Spain and Morocco have agreed to reinforce coordination and expedite the return process for those who entered illegally.
