World · Africa · 22 hrs ago
Migrants say they were sent from Ceuta to Morocco against their will
Three Moroccan migrants say they were sent from Ceuta to Morocco against their will after authorities cleared a camp called El Trampolín.
One of them, a 19-year-old identified as Omar, says officers told people they would be taken to a reception centre, but buses drove them to the border instead.
He says Moroccan forces then took them to other cities, and that he was moved far from his home in Casablanca.
Two other migrants gave accounts that the story describes as similar.
Spain’s minister Ángel Víctor Torres said 1,823 migrants chose to return voluntarily over Sunday and Monday.
The accounts raise questions about whether people were given the chance to be identified, get legal and language assistance, and ask for asylum before being returned.
The story gives no information about what will happen next.
Migrants removed from the El Trampolín camp in Ceuta say they were sent to Morocco against their will.
A 19-year-old migrant identified as Omar said officials told him he would be taken to a camp, but the bus went to the border.
He said Moroccan forces then took the migrants to cities far from where they lived.
Spain’s minister Ángel Víctor Torres said 1,823 migrants chose to return voluntarily on Sunday and Monday after the camp was dismantled.
Two other Moroccan migrants told El Mundo that they, too, had not returned voluntarily.
- Who
- Moroccan migrants removed from the El Trampolín camp, including a 19-year-old identified as Omar.
- What
- They said they were taken to Morocco against their will. Spain’s minister said 1,823 migrants returned voluntarily.
- When
- The camp was dismantled the weekend before El Mundo’s report, published on 11 October 2026. Omar said he returned on Sunday.
- Where
- From El Trampolín in Ceuta to Morocco. Omar said he was taken to Tinghir.
- Why
- Not stated
Spanish government
Migrants who say they were returned against their will
Return to Morocco
Spanish government
Minister Ángel Víctor Torres said 1,823 migrants chose to return voluntarily after the camp was dismantled.
Migrants who say they were returned against their will
Omar and two other Moroccan migrants said they did not leave voluntarily.
They told us they were going to take our fingerprints and then take us to the camps, but before that they put us on buses and took us straight to the border.
They told us that Morocco had reached an agreement with Spain to return all the migrants.
The police took me and expelled me by force.
Omar said he crossed to Ceuta by swimming.
El Trampolín was dismantled and migrants were taken away.
Omar said soldiers and security officers surrounded the migrants, who were then taken by bus to the border.
Omar contacted El Mundo seeking help, four days after the camp was dismantled.
- Migrants said to have returned voluntarily
- 1,823
- Omar’s age
- 19
- Omar’s hometown
- Casablanca
- City Omar said he was taken to
- Tinghir
- Distance from Casablanca to Tinghir
- 440 kilometres
Sources
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