Thousands of migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta, at least 10 dead
Thousands of migrants have poured into Ceuta, Spain’s enclave on the northern coast of Africa, by land and sea, overwhelming local resources and leaving at least 10 people dead.
The arrivals intensified on Thursday, when hundreds of people swam into Ceuta around midday and again during the early afternoon, according to Spanish state broadcaster RTVE. Videos showed large groups entering the enclave through the water and across the land border with Morocco.
At least 10 people have died during the mass arrival, RTVE reported.
Ceuta’s government said thousands of people have crossed through the Tarajal border area in recent days, with the number rising sharply during the past several hours. Officials described the crisis as unprecedented and said it was testing the city’s ability to respond.
Arrivals had already been increasing for about two weeks before Thursday’s surge.
Spain’s Interior Ministry believes human trafficking networks have used a recent Supreme Court ruling to encourage migrants to make the journey, according to RTVE. The July 8 decision found that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be immediately returned across the border and must instead go through the normal administrative process.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the Spanish government is mobilizing resources and working with Moroccan and international authorities to restore order. The government has declined to declare a national emergency, saying migration does not qualify as a civil protection emergency under Spanish law.
Ceuta’s government and all parties represented in its assembly criticized what they described as an insufficient response from the national government, calling for immediate and stronger action to protect the enclave’s territorial integrity.
Authorities in Spain and Morocco have agreed to increase coordination and work toward the return of people who entered Ceuta illegally, according to officials.
The crisis has also spread to Melilla, Spain’s other enclave in North Africa. The Beni Enzar border crossing with Morocco was closed after a large group attempted to enter through the main checkpoint and the Dique Sur area, Spanish newspaper ABC reported.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the images from Ceuta as “impressive” and warned that Italy could take extraordinary measures, including suspending open-border travel with Spain under the Schengen agreement.
“Italy will not stand by and watch,” Meloni said. “We are convening the relevant bodies, and following these meetings, we are prepared to intervene with extraordinary measures to defend the borders and the safety of citizens.”
Lo advertí.
⁰Desde principios de año vengo advirtiendo de lo que iba a ocurrir en Ceuta; todo se estaba gestando y ha culminado exactamente como predije. El Gobierno también lo sabía —tengo plena constancia de ello—. Valoraron la amenaza internamente y no hicieron absolutamente… pic.twitter.com/k8KO1orHTg— Rubén Pulido (@rubnpulido) July 30, 2026
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
