The current turmoil in Ceuta has plunged the left-wing minority government in Madrid into a significant crisis. Only a few weeks after a massive influx of migrants from Morocco, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has decided to take decisive action upon his return from summer vacation in the North African enclave. Following accusations from the conservative leader of the enclave that Madrid has "abandoned" Ceuta, the central government has decided to implement a sudden strategic shift and take charge of the situation.
For weeks, officials in Madrid had given the impression that the remaining migrants would return home on their own, similar to the over 70,000 individuals who had largely swum to Spain at the end of July and voluntarily returned to Morocco. However, the National Security Council has now declared a "situation of interest for national security" during an emergency meeting concerning Ceuta. Following a Cabinet resolution, Territorial Minister Ángel Víctor Torres has been appointed to oversee crisis management. Supported by a committee consisting of eleven ministers and representatives from the Ceuta regional government, Torres is tasked with restoring "full normalcy" as swiftly as possible.
This unification of the command chain has been a demand from the President of the Ceuta region and the conservative People's Party (PP) since late July. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of protesters in Ceuta accused the Madrid government of having "abandoned" their city. Defense Minister Robles acknowledged shortcomings before a parliamentary committee, apologizing to all those in Ceuta who may have felt "abandoned or inadequately supported." The government expressed its solidarity with the residents of Ceuta. Six additional ministers are set to address the Parliament as part of a communication campaign by Monday, with Sánchez scheduled to follow on September 3.
Immigration as a Pivotal Election Issue
Amid ongoing loss of control in Ceuta, domestic political pressure is mounting on Sánchez's left-wing minority government, which has made the most liberal migration policy in Europe its hallmark. Through mass regularization, the government aims for integration rather than isolation. According to El País, immigration will be the determining issue for winning the next elections, which must occur by summer 2027.
The opposition PP has accused the government of "failure" regarding its migration and security policies in light of the "invasion" in Ceuta. They are calling for stricter border controls and seek to complicate the legalization of foreigners in Spain. The migration crisis in Ceuta has led to a dramatic increase in anti-foreigner hate messages online, with over 3,000 reported daily, according to the state monitoring agency for racism and xenophobia.
New government coordinator Torres stated that the repatriation of migrants from Morocco is a priority for the government. The PP demands that all migrants return, including unaccompanied minors and potential asylum seekers. However, Torres dismissed this demand as populist, arguing that it is legally unfeasible.
Unreliable Migrant Numbers in Ceuta
As of today, the central government has been unable to provide reliable figures regarding how many migrants, minors, and asylum seekers have been present in Ceuta since the end of July. The regional government estimates about 10,000 individuals residing in the city of 84,000 inhabitants. Officials in Madrid emphasize that 90 to 95 percent of the over 70,000 people who arrived in Ceuta have voluntarily returned to Morocco.
Minister Torres reported that around 1,400 minors have been registered. However, Economic Minister Carlos Cuerpo indicated that 2,900 children and adolescents have already been identified. Approximately 1,800 adults have been accommodated in two military tent camps since Friday, while about 4,000 are receiving humanitarian assistance, which is becoming increasingly crucial due to early cases of scabies and tuberculosis.
A collective expulsion is legally impossible without individual case evaluations. Yet, authorities are currently ill-equipped to handle thousands of cases, having been unable even to remove individuals from the streets. Additional sports stadiums are now being utilized for this purpose. In the case of minors, medical assessments must first establish their age, followed by detailed individual reports. Before returning to Morocco, guardians must be identified, and further reports must confirm that these guardians do not pose a risk to the minors and that they do not fear persecution, which could be grounds for asylum.
According to the latest available data from the Public Prosecutor's Office, by the end of 2024, approximately 16,000 unaccompanied minors were residing in Spain. Four were repatriated to Colombia, three to Romania, and one to France—none to Morocco since 2021. Following the last significant surge in Ceuta five years ago, several hundred minors were sent back to Morocco, a decision that was later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.
As reported by faz.net.
