Spain's PM blames traffickers after 60,000 migrants reach Ceuta from Morocco

Spain's prime minister has attributed the influx of approximately 60,000 migrants into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco to human trafficking organizations. Local media reports indicate that at least 57 individuals perished during this surge.

Pedro Sánchez characterized the event as an "infringement of Spain's territorial integrity." In response, Italy has suspended the European Union's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain.

This surge follows a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court that prohibits the summary return to Morocco of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish enclave.

By Friday evening, Spanish officials reported that over 48,000 of the migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco.

One migrant, speaking to Reuters news agency, expressed his decision to return, stating: "It's not good at all, and it's not fun either. I mean, people are dying here. I beg you, please, if you haven't come yet, don't come. Don't do it."

Ceuta, situated on the North African coast and separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar, has historically been a key point for migrants seeking to enter Europe. During the summer months, there is often a significant effort to reach Ceuta, frequently coordinated via social media.

Ceuta and Melilla, both Spanish enclaves coveted by Morocco, have long been a source of diplomatic tension between the two nations. They represent the European Union's sole land borders with Africa.

Local authorities had previously requested assistance from Madrid due to a recent increase in attempted crossings, but chaotic scenes unfolded on Thursday as border controls seemingly failed.

Carmen Gonzalez Bermudez, who was visiting her parents in the city, described the previous day to the BBC as "very overwhelming."

She recounted seeing "thousands and thousands and thousands of people in swimming costumes and all wet, just coming from the sea," adding that "I know most of them are nice people just looking for a better future for themselves. But we cannot give that to them."

Víctor Ortiz Sotomayor told the BBC he had "never seen anything like it," describing the city as "packed with immigrants, in every square and street, mainly looking for food."

"There were only a few stores open, but in the end the police advised them to close because of the overwhelming influx of people," he added.

"My friends, my family and I are all staying at home. We haven't gone outside because we've scared."

Referring to a previous migrant surge into Ceuta, Carmen Gonzalez Bermudez remarked: "In 2021, we saw our police and our military doing something. Yesterday, they were in the streets, but they weren't doing nothing. So that for starters feels really scary."

Ceuta's President Juan Jesús Vivas stated that the arrivals constituted approximately 70% of the city's population, which stands at around 83,600 according to the latest local figures. Spain's Interior Ministry informed the BBC that its estimates were slightly lower, citing 50,000 arrivals since early Thursday.

Spain has now deployed its armed forces to enhance security in Ceuta and its sister city of Melilla, where between 300 and 400 crossings were also reported overnight.

Speaking on Friday during a visit to Ceuta, Sánchez asserted that criminal networks deliberately misinterpreted the recent Supreme Court ruling, causing the surge.

"What has emerged from our talks with Moroccan authorities is that trafficking mafias took a self-serving interpretation of a Supreme Court ruling" which "spread like wildfire," he said.

He further stated that the government would consider reinforcing the border with Morocco and that Moroccan authorities were cooperating with the repatriation of those who had entered illegally.

A significant number of individuals arrived in Ceuta, with many young men observed swimming into Ceuta or crossing the land border.

While most of those entering Ceuta have been young men, women, children, and even infants were also present in the crowds. Officials estimate that at least 7,000 of those who illegally crossed into the territory in the last 24 hours are minors.

Typically, migrants attempting to enter Ceuta swim several kilometers from further up the coast. This time, they appeared to have been able to easily approach the border fence itself. Initially, some even walked along the rocks on the jetty and around its end, but most had to swim out and around to reach the beaches on the other side.

The whereabouts of Moroccan border guards at this point and why the groups of migrants were not dispersed or stopped remain unclear.

Morocco, which experiences a high unemployment rate, saw several Gen Z anti-government protests last year, with young people demanding improved opportunities and public services.

BBC Verify has examined migration data released by the UN, which reported 2,826 people had crossed into Ceuta up until July 15 this year, with an additional 181 entering via Melilla.

The number of migrants crossing into these two territories was already elevated compared to recent years, which saw 994 migrants enter in 2025, 476 in 2024, and 467 in 2023.

Crowds gathered at the border between Morocco and Spain overnight, and Spain has now established a substantial military presence at the border.

Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the images from Ceuta as "shocking," writing on social media that such "uncontrolled immigration" posed a security threat to Europe.

Later on Friday, Italy suspended the Schengen zone agreement with Spain on free movement. As the two countries do not share a land border, this would effectively apply only to flights, seemingly implying additional checks for passengers.

The Spanish foreign minister deemed such remarks "improper" for "a partner and friendly country from which we expect European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery." He also summoned the Italian ambassador to Madrid on Friday.

The Czech Republic's Andrej Babiš also called for the temporary suspension of Spain's Schengen membership.

Responding on X, Sánchez stated: "Solidarity and empathy are optional. Respect for European treaties and data is not."

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, labeled the situation in Ceuta a "catastrophe" and attributed it to "weak law, bad management."

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen declared the images from Ceuta "unacceptable" and demanded they "stop immediately."

Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen supported Meloni, asserting that Spain had failed to protect its border, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz demanded Morocco "take back illegal migrants immediately."

The Schengen Area is a system of open borders encompassing 29 European countries that have officially eliminated controls at their common borders.