The number of migrants who reached the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta has risen to 60,000 in recent days, Regional President Juan Jesus Vivas announced on Friday. Furthermore, the death toll during the crossings has been confirmed to have increased to 34, up from the previously reported 27 fatalities.
Spanish officials had earlier estimated that about 50,000 migrants crossed the border into the exclave in just the last 24 hours. What appeared to be a temporary collapse of the border security prompt a wave of criticism from European heads of state and government. Even German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) called on Spain to restore control over the situation in Ceuta “as quickly as possible.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held a press conference in Ceuta on Friday, describing the events as an “attack” and a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity. He affirmed that the government would deploy all state resources to ensure the security of Ceuta. Since yesterday, the repatriation of migrants who entered Ceuta illegally has been accelerated. The central government has established a temporary documentation center in cooperation with the authorities in Ceuta to streamline this deportation process. Additionally, the Spanish Guardia Civil will deploy buoys near the breakwater to create physical barriers.
Critics, however, attribute the development in Ceuta partly to a ruling by the Supreme Court of Spain. That court had declared sea pushbacks illegal and demanded adherence to rule of law procedures, stipulating that individual case reviews are necessary for migrants reaching Spanish territory at sea or while swimming, and that they possess the right to legal representation.
