Spain’s migrant crisis sparks rights fears as thousands face deportation

CEUTA, Spain: Spain’s struggle to process thousands of migrants who crossed into its North African enclave of Ceuta has raised serious concerns about asylum rights, alleged forced returns and the treatment of vulnerable families, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government to resolve the crisis.

Nearly three months after a mass border crossing on July 30, thousands of people remain scattered across the small port city bordering Morocco. Some are sleeping outdoors, hiding in surrounding hills or relying on charities for shelter while waiting for decisions on their immigration and asylum cases.

The crisis has placed Sanchez’s left-wing government under growing pressure from the European Union and domestic political opponents, with the country preparing for a snap election on November 29.

According to a Reuters investigation published on October 19, interviews with migrants, lawyers, charities and security personnel have highlighted concerns that Spain’s efforts to speed up case processing could leave people with legitimate protection claims at risk of deportation.

Vulnerable families caught in the crisis

Among those struggling to secure help is Fatna, a 21-year-old woman who arrived in Ceuta while heavily pregnant, accompanied by her disabled son. She has since given birth to a girl suffering from kidney problems, but the family urgently needs access to specialist treatment on mainland Spain.

Her asylum application remains under review, and she requires permission to travel.

The family’s situation has raised questions about how authorities identify and assist people considered vulnerable under European Union law.

At a Catholic migrant reception centre, coordinator Wendell Soares said the facility had taken in Fatna’s family and dozens of others despite having capacity for only seven people under normal circumstances.

He warned against treating migrants as a single group, stressing that each person had individual circumstances and potentially different protection needs.

Charities allege rights violations

Eight charities, including Oxfam and Amnesty International, have filed a complaint with Spain’s ombudsman alleging serious violations in Ceuta. The allegations include the return of migrants from conflict-affected countries and inadequate access to interpreters and legal assistance.

Several other organisations have also reported cases in which migrants were allegedly pressured into returning to Morocco or deported without adequate explanation.

Spain’s government maintains that returns have been voluntary. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said approximately 12,000 migrants had chosen to return since mid-August, while authorities had received up to 1,200 asylum applications and resolved 700 cases.

However, immigration experts stress that Morocco’s designation as a safe country of origin does not remove an individual’s right to seek asylum. Each application must be assessed on its own circumstances.

Concerns are particularly acute for vulnerable people, including unaccompanied minors and LGBT Moroccans who fear persecution if returned. Rayane, a 19-year-old gay Moroccan awaiting an asylum decision, said he could not imagine returning to a country where same-sex sexual activity is criminalised.

Processing delays threaten to prolong crisis

The situation has also exposed practical difficulties in implementing the EU’s migration framework, which envisages faster processing of asylum claims at external borders.

A police union representative estimated that only around 100 cases were being registered daily by October 14 because of staff shortages, inadequate resources and computer problems.

The union believes between 7,000 and 8,000 migrants may still be scattered across Ceuta, suggesting the backlog could continue well into next summer.

Meanwhile, doctors have reported treating migrants for scabies, tuberculosis and gastrointestinal infections linked to prolonged periods outdoors.

For families such as Fatna’s, the delays carry potentially devastating consequences. Her husband, Mohamed, said they were desperate to remain in Spain, fearing for their children’s health and future.

As the political pressure grows, Spain faces a difficult challenge: managing an overwhelmed border system while ensuring that people with legitimate asylum claims receive fair assessments and appropriate protection.