At Least 34 Die in Mass Ceuta Border Crossing

CEUTA- At least 34 migrants died after tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta over the past 24 hours, triggering one of the largest border breaches in the territory’s history and prompting Spain to reinforce humanitarian and security operations.

Authorities in Ceuta said around 60,000 migrants entered the enclave, a figure equivalent to roughly 70% of the city’s permanent population. The influx overwhelmed local resources as thousands remained on the streets while security forces on both sides of the border struggled to manage the situation.

Ceuta regional president Juan Jesús Vivas described the situation as “absolutely unsustainable” as authorities worked to provide emergency assistance and restore order. Clashes between migrants and Moroccan security forces continued on Friday near the border, while some migrants continued attempting to reach the enclave by swimming.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta on Friday and condemned the mass crossing, describing it as a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity. He blamed human smuggling networks for encouraging migrants to undertake dangerous journeys, saying traffickers had misled vulnerable people and contributed to the deaths at the border.

Live television footage showed Moroccan security forces using tear gas to disperse crowds gathered on hills overlooking Ceuta, while other migrants entered Spanish territory through the sea. At the same time, groups of people were seen returning voluntarily from Ceuta to Morocco.

Rachid Sbihi, who heads a local workers’ association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a serious humanitarian emergency. He said thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied minors, were sleeping in parks and on sidewalks while emergency personnel focused on assisting the injured and other vulnerable people.

According to Sbihi, many of the fatalities resulted from drowning as migrants attempted to swim into Ceuta. Others were killed in a crush near the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach, close to one of the territory’s border crossings with Morocco.

Moroccan authorities deployed additional police units, water cannons and warning shots in an effort to prevent further crossings, according to Moroccan rights groups. Achraf Maimouni, a human rights activist based in the border city of Fnideq, said migrants continued entering Ceuta despite the reinforced security presence, while those intercepted were transported farther into Morocco.

Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, expressed hope that those who had crossed into Ceuta would return voluntarily. She said Morocco remained committed to legal, orderly and safe migration but did not comment on the immediate causes of the mass movement.

Spanish authorities linked the surge to a recent ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court concerning migrants who arrive by sea. Sánchez said human smuggling networks had misrepresented the decision, spreading false information that encouraged large numbers of migrants to attempt the crossing.

The Spanish government later stressed that the events in Ceuta were unrelated to its recent immigration regularization measures, under which certain undocumented migrants already living in Spain can obtain residency and work permits. Officials said the border crisis instead stemmed from traffickers exploiting the court ruling to encourage irregular migration.

The developments sparked political reactions beyond Spain. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy’s participation in the Schengen open-border system with Spain, citing security concerns, while French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that France would strengthen border controls with Spain by activating the Rapid Intervention Border Force.

The unrest also spread to Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla. Local media and rights groups reported clashes between migrants and Moroccan police in the neighboring Moroccan town of Bni Nsar, where demonstrators threw stones, set police vehicles on fire and dozens of people attempting to cross into the Spanish territory were arrested.