▲ Migrants attempting to enter Ceuta from Morocco
The Spanish government deployed military forces to tighten border controls after thousands of migrants crossed all at once into Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city bordering Morocco in North Africa, foreign media outlets including Reuters reported on July 30 (local time).
According to reports, migrants in Morocco broke through the fences surrounding Ceuta or swam across the sea to enter the city that day.
The groups reportedly included not only young adults, but also families with small children, unaccompanied minors, and the elderly.
While a significant number entered the border area on foot or by swimming, others arrived on motorcycles or in cars.
Hundreds of migrants broke through the fences and rushed in just minutes after midnight.
Some migrants were reportedly heard shouting "Long Live Spain" as they entered Ceuta.
Moroccan police attempted to block them, but were overwhelmed by the large crowd and lost control.
A spokesperson for Spain's Guardia Civil border guard stated that the influx of migrants was on a scale too massive for police forces to handle.
Spain's state broadcaster TVE reported that 2,000 to 3,000 people had crossed the border over the course of a few days.
Casualties also mounted amid the chaos.
Local authorities announced that nine bodies, presumed to be migrants who attempted to cross into Ceuta, were found along the coastline and other areas that day.
Including these latest deaths, about 60 migrants have died attempting to enter Ceuta over the past few months.
The Spanish government reinforced local security personnel by sending 200 police officers and 60 military troops from the mainland to Ceuta.
As the situation on the ground became extremely chaotic, many shops in downtown Ceuta closed their doors.
Enrique Serrano, who runs a women's clothing store in the city center, said, "The situation is extremely tense, so we will not open the shop this afternoon. The first priority is to protect my business and my family."
Ceuta is a Spanish territory in North Africa with a population of 85,000.
Reuters noted that this situation is reminiscent of 2021, when about 10,000 migrants from Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa entered Ceuta over the span of a few days.
Because Ceuta shares a land border with the African continent, mass attempts by migrants aiming to enter Europe to cross the border occur periodically.
The Socialist government led by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pursued relatively migrant-friendly policies in Europe.
Recently, it even launched a program granting legal residency status to about 500,000 undocumented migrants.
The opposition criticized the Sanchez government, holding it responsible for the Ceuta situation.
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the main opposition People's Party, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that "the situation in Ceuta is desperate" and that "the government must not look away. We are facing a national security crisis."
Ceuta Mayor Juan Jesus Vivas also urged the central government that day to declare a state of emergency over the mass entry situation.
In a TV interview, he appealed that "we are in a complete humanitarian and social emergency" and that there is no longer space to accommodate migrants.
The situation also appears to be spilling over into a diplomatic conflict between Spain and Italy.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani claimed on X that the scenes coming out of Ceuta demonstrate that the migration policy of the Sanchez government is flawed.
He mentioned the Schengen Agreement—a system guaranteeing free movement by abolishing border checks among 29 European countries—and said he "is in favor of suspending the Schengen Agreement with Spain," drawing backlash from Spain.
The Spanish government criticized Tajani's remarks as "inflammatory statements" and summoned the Italian ambassador in Madrid to deliver a protest, AFP reported.
Spain's Interior Ministry stated that it has blocked the illegal entry of thousands of people over the past few days and is cooperating closely with Moroccan authorities.
Excluding the possibility of declaring a state of emergency, the Spanish ministry announced that it has agreed with the Moroccan government to return those who crossed into Ceuta as quickly as possible.
Prime Minister Sanchez posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "(the central government) is mobilizing all necessary resources and preparing measures for normalization as soon as possible, in cooperation with Morocco and international relations authorities."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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