The chaotic situation in Ceuta is placing significant pressure on the leftist minority government in Madrid, leading to a deepening crisis. Almost four weeks after a significant influx of migrants from Morocco, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has returned from his summer holiday in the North African enclave and is now taking decisive action. Following accusations from the conservative leader of the enclave, who claimed that Madrid had 'abandoned' Ceuta, the central government has opted for a sudden shift in strategy, taking control of the situation.
For weeks, ministers in Madrid had given the impression that the remaining migrants would voluntarily return home, similar to the more than 70,000 individuals who primarily swam to Spain in late July and subsequently returned to Morocco on their own accord. However, the National Security Council convened a special session and declared a 'situation of interest for national security' concerning Ceuta. Following a cabinet resolution, Territorial Minister Ángel Víctor Torres has been tasked with overseeing all aspects of crisis management. Supported by a committee consisting of eleven ministers and representatives from the regional government of Ceuta, Torres aims to restore 'full normalcy' as swiftly as possible.
This consolidation of command had been requested by the President of Ceuta and the conservative People's Party (PP) since the end of July. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of protesters in Ceuta accused the Madrid government of having 'abandoned' their city. Defense Minister Robles admitted to failures before a parliamentary committee, extending apologies to all those in Ceuta who may have felt 'abandoned or inadequately supported'. She emphasized that the government stands with them and shares in their suffering. Six other ministers are set to address Parliament by Monday as part of a communication offensive, with Sánchez expected to follow on September 3.
Immigration as a Key Election Issue
Amid the ongoing loss of control in Ceuta, domestic political pressure is mounting on Sánchez's leftist minority government, which has made the most liberal migration policy in Europe its hallmark. Through ongoing mass regularizations, the government is pushing for integration rather than isolation. According to El País, the topic of immigration will be crucial in determining the outcome of the next elections, which must be held by summer 2027.
The opposition PP has accused the government of failing its migration and security policies in light of the 'invasion' in Ceuta. They are calling for stricter border controls and seeking to make the legalization of foreigners in Spain more challenging. The migration crisis in Ceuta has reportedly triggered an explosion of xenophobic hate messages online, with over 3,000 being recorded daily, according to the state observatory for racism and xenophobia.
New government coordinator Torres stated that repatriating migrants to Morocco is now a priority for the government. The PP demands that all migrants return, including unaccompanied minors and potential asylum seekers. Torres dismissed this demand as populist, arguing that it is not legally feasible.
Unreliable Migrant Statistics Persist
As of now, the central government is unable to provide reliable statistics regarding the number of migrants, minors, and asylum seekers present in Ceuta since the end of July. The regional government estimates the total to be around 10,000 in a city of 84,000 residents. In Madrid, officials highlight that 90 to 95 percent of the over 70,000 individuals who arrived in Ceuta have voluntarily returned to Morocco.
According to Minister Torres, approximately 1,400 minors have been registered so far, although Economic Minister Carlos Cuerpo reports that 2,900 children and adolescents have been identified. About 1,800 adults have been accommodated in two military tent camps since Friday. Approximately 4,000 individuals are receiving humanitarian aid, which is becoming increasingly critical due to emerging cases of scabies and tuberculosis.
A mass expulsion without individual case assessments is legally impossible. However, the authorities are not equipped to handle thousands of cases and have struggled to even remove people from the streets. Several sports stadiums are now being repurposed for this effort. For minors, age verification often requires medical assessment, followed by a detailed individual report. Before any transfer to Morocco, it must be proven that guardians can be identified and that they pose no danger to the minors, nor do they face persecution that would qualify them for asylum.
According to the latest figures from the Public Prosecutor's Office, over 16,000 unaccompanied minors were residing in Spain at the end of 2024. Repatriations have occurred to Colombia, Romania, and France, but none have been made to Morocco since 2021. Following the last significant surge in Ceuta five years ago, several hundred minors were sent back to Morocco, but this was later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.
As reported by faz.net.
