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Ceuta surge and deaths
A surge of migrants crossing into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco over the past few days triggered a political crisis for Madrid and left at least 57 people dead, according to The Guardian.
“At least 57 people have died trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta”
The Guardian reported that the huge influx took place over just 24 hours and overwhelmed the city of 85,000 people, while Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez called it “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity”.
DW said Ceuta estimated 60,000 people entered the city and that at least 57 died in the attempt, as Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta and blamed people smugglers manipulating a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Al Jazeera said Spanish authorities reinforced the enclave with military personnel and additional police after at least 34 people died trying to cross into Spanish territory from Morocco by land and sea, and it described many deaths as drownings during the sea crossing or deaths in a crush at the breakwater fence near Tarajal beach.
The Guardian added that Spain’s interior ministry said more than 48,300 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco by 6pm on Friday, while Ceuta’s president put the figure at about 60,000.
European and U.S. reactions
The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on social media that “the images coming from Ceuta are unacceptable,” and she warned that “Dangerous crossings must be stopped immediately.”
In Washington, the State Department asserted that “the United States stands with the people of Spain, and all Europeans,” while denouncing the crisis as a “flagrant violation of their sovereignty and human rights,” according to thediplomatinspain.
Al Jazeera reported that the surge triggered political tensions across Europe, with France announcing tighter checks at its border and Spain and Italy threatening new measures to curb migration, including calls by senior politicians to suspend Spain from the Schengen free-travel area.
DW said Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told reporters that the integrity of the Schengen free-travel area was “guaranteed,” after Italy announced it was temporarily suspending the Schengen free-travel pact with Spain.
Euronews reported that Trump invoked the mass crossings into Ceuta to warn Americans, saying “It's terrible. Remember that picture. That's going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in,” while it also said the European Union stressed the crisis had not spread to mainland Europe.
What happens next
Spain said it would use all the resources at its disposal to guarantee the safety of Ceuta’s population, and The Guardian reported that Sánchez said a temporary reception centre would be established to facilitate documentation, registration, triage and “expedited” expulsion of people with no legal claim to be in Spain.
“a temporary reception centre would be established”
The Guardian also said Sánchez planned to erect a visible barrier—a line of buoys—near the breakwater at Ceuta’s Tarajal beach to make it clear where the border was and to legally comply with the court’s ruling.
DW reported that Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain for one month, and it said the measure would remain in force for one month beginning on Saturday, while Italy’s interior ministry said checks at air and sea borders with Spain would be “targeted” and concern only non-EU citizens arriving from Spain.
Germany’s Interior Alexander Dobrindt said Berlin intends to reinforce and extend checks at Germany’s borders, adding that “We will extend the possibility of internal checks beyond September,” as Germany had reintroduced some border checks within the Schengen zone on September 16, 2024.
Al Jazeera said Morocco deployed security forces and water cannon to push back crowds approaching the border, while Spanish authorities repeatedly pushed back attempts to breach the crossing overnight and Reuters footage showed migrants continuing to enter through the Tarajal beach area despite the reinforced security presence.
