1 month ago
Thousands of Migrants Flood Ceuta, Police Overwhelmed
A big group of people from Morocco tried to get into the Spanish town of Ceuta by jumping over fences and swimming across the sea.
They used inner tubes and other floats to help them.
The police were surprised and had a hard time keeping up.
The leader of Ceuta asked the Spanish government to declare an emergency and even asked the army to help.
The Spanish court said that people who are caught at sea can’t be sent back right away, and some say this rule is making more people try to cross.
The Spanish Interior Ministry is working with Morocco to stop the surge, blaming smugglers for encouraging the crossings.
Thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco by foot and sea, overwhelming local police.
Estimates range from 2,000 to 3,000 youths, with some scaling fences and others swimming with inner tubes.
Ceuta’s leader urged Madrid to declare a state of emergency and requested army deployment.
Spain’s Supreme Court ruling prevents summary return of intercepted migrants, a factor cited by smugglers.
The Interior Ministry says it is working with Morocco to curb the surge, blaming people‑smuggling networks.
- Who
- Migrants, Ceuta officials, Spanish authorities
- What
- Mass crossing of migrants into Ceuta
- Where
- Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave on the border with Morocco
- When
- Thursday, July 30, 2024
- Why
- Migrants seeking to reach Europe, aided by people‑smuggling networks exploiting a Supreme Court ruling
Key facts
- Location
- Ceuta, Spain
- Number of migrants
- 2,000–3,000
- Date
- July 30, 2024
- Border type
- Sea and fence
- Authorities involved
- Guardia Civil, Interior Ministry, Supreme Court
Quotes
Guardia Civil spokesperson
Representative of Spain’s Guardia Civil police
“The mass crossing coincided with the arrival of more than 1,500 migrants swimming into the city over the past week”
theprint.in
“It has been a slow trickle since the Supreme Court's ruling, but today has been an explosion.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Alberto Nunez Feijoo
Leader of Spain’s People’s Party opposition
“The situation in Ceuta is desperate. The government cannot look the other way… because we are facing a national security crisis.”
theprint.in
“Ceuta’s leader urged the national government to declare an emergency over the mass arrivals.”
theprint.in
Migrant rights activist Zakaria Zarroqui
Activist for migrant rights
“The situation remains out of control as we speak.”
theprint.in
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Thousands of migrants cross into Spain’s Ceuta on foot, EFE reports
Migrants swarm border into Spain’s Ceuta, overwhelming police, Guardia Civil says
Migrants cross border into Spain’s Ceuta, overwhelming police, Guardia Civil says
