Crisis in Ceuta: Madrid Accelerates Repatriation of Migrants
The recent influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has prompted the Spanish government to expedite the repatriation process back to Morocco. Following the arrival of over 5,300 individuals by the end of July, and with nearly 900 more being sheltered as of Sunday, approximately 13,000 migrants remain in the occupied territory. The Spanish authorities are actively managing this crisis with a focus on returning individuals to their home country as quickly as possible.
In a statement released on Sunday, Ángel Víctor Torres, Spain's Minister for Territorial Policy, confirmed that more than 5,300 migrants have successfully returned to Morocco in recent days. This number also includes about a hundred migrants who have chosen to withdraw their asylum applications in Spain. To alleviate overcrowding in public spaces, an emergency response operation was deployed early Sunday morning, allowing for the transfer of 864 individuals who had been sleeping on the streets of Ceuta to a temporary closed reception center.
Madrid's primary goal remains to restore normalcy swiftly. This involves not only providing shelter for those living on the streets but also repatriating individuals who do not meet international protection criteria. Torres emphasized that any repatriation must undergo a strict prior identification process in line with Spanish legal frameworks. By centralizing migrants in appropriate facilities, the administration aims to streamline the repatriation process. However, the situation continues to be tense, as local government data indicates that around 13,000 individuals, including both adults and minors, still reside within the enclave.
As reported by h24info.ma.
