Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Spain Deploys Military After Thousands of Migrants Cross Ceuta
A big group of people from Morocco swam and walked across the sea to a small Spanish town called Ceuta.
They were trying to get into Spain to find a better life.
The crossing was so chaotic that nine people died.
The Spanish government sent its army to help the police keep the area safe.
The Spanish Prime Minister and the Interior Minister will visit Ceuta to see what happened and help fix the problem.
Thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, overwhelming local authorities.
At least nine people died during the chaotic crossing, with bodies found in the water.
Spain announced deployment of its Armed Forces to assist the Civil Guard and restore order.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska will visit Ceuta to assess the situation.
The surge is linked to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limits immediate pushback of sea‑arrivals, though reasons remain unclear.
- Who
- Spanish government, migrants from Morocco, local Ceuta authorities
- What
- Deployment of Spanish Armed Forces to restore order after a mass migrant crossing that left nine dead
- When
- Thursday, July 15, 2024
- Where
- Ceuta, Spanish enclave on the North African coast, border with Morocco
- Why
- Overwhelming migration crisis and collapsed border security, partly linked to a Supreme Court ruling limiting immediate pushback of sea‑arrivals
- Location
- Ceuta, Spanish enclave on North African coast
- Country
- Spain
- Number of migrants
- Thousands (over 1,500 in the past week)
- Deaths
- 9
- Date
- Thursday, July 15, 2024
- Military deployed
- Yes
- Prime Minister
- Pedro Sánchez
- Interior Minister
- Fernando Grande-Marlaska
Sources
Spain Deploys Military to Ceuta After Thousands of People Breach Morocco’s Border and at Least 9 Die
Spain Deploys Army as Thousands Cross Ceuta Border, 9 Dead
Nine Dead, Thousands Cross Into Ceuta As Spain Deploys Military At Morocco Border
Nine dead as thousands of migrants swim to Spain's Ceuta from Morocco; military to be deployed to restore order
WATCH: 'Absolute chaos' at Spain-Morocco border; thousands breach Ceuta, at least 9 killed
