60,000 migrants flood Spain’s Ceuta border

Spain has deployed additional security forces to its North African territory of Ceuta after a massive wave of migrants

Spain has deployed additional security forces to its North African territory of Ceuta after a massive wave of migrants crossed from Morocco, creating one of the largest border crises in the region’s recent history.

Ceuta’s President Juan Jesús Vivas said around 60,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave within 24 hours, while at least 43 people died during the crossing attempts. The sudden influx overwhelmed local authorities and triggered an emergency response from Madrid.

Spain’s Interior Ministry gave a lower estimate, saying around 50,000 people had reached Ceuta since early Thursday. Officials said more than 25,000 migrants had already returned voluntarily to Morocco.

The crisis intensified after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be immediately returned to Morocco. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an “attack” and promised that those who entered illegally would be sent back as quickly as possible.

During a visit to Ceuta, Sánchez said Spain would strengthen border security and accused criminal networks of spreading misleading information about the court ruling to encourage migration attempts. He added that Moroccan authorities were cooperating with plans to return migrants.

Spanish authorities have now increased military deployment in Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa, after several hundred additional crossings were reported there.

Many of those arriving were young men, but women, children and infants were also among the migrants. Officials estimated that around 7,000 minors were part of the latest arrivals.

Ceuta, located on Morocco’s northern coast, is one of the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. The territory has long been a major route for migrants seeking entry into Europe and remains a sensitive issue in Spain-Morocco relations.

The latest arrivals have caused concern among European leaders. Several governments called for stronger border controls, while EU officials described the scenes in Ceuta as unacceptable and urged an immediate halt to irregular crossings.

The last major migration surge in Ceuta occurred in 2021, when thousands crossed the border amid a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco. However, officials said the current movement is far larger and has created an unprecedented challenge for local authorities.