The ongoing chaos in Ceuta has plunged the left-wing minority government in Madrid into a deep crisis. Just four weeks after a significant influx of migrants from Morocco, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is taking decisive action upon his return from summer vacation in the North African enclave. Following accusations from the conservative leader of Ceuta that Madrid has "abandoned" the city, the central government has decided to implement a sudden strategic shift and take charge of the situation.
For weeks, ministers in Madrid had created the impression that the remaining migrants would return home on their own, similar to the over 70,000 individuals who swam to Spain at the end of July and voluntarily returned to Morocco. However, the National Security Council has declared a "situation of interest for national security" during an emergency meeting concerning Ceuta. Following a cabinet decision, Territorial Minister Ángel Víctor Torres has been appointed to lead the crisis management efforts, supported by a committee comprising eleven ministers and representatives from the Ceuta regional government, with the goal of restoring "complete normalcy" as swiftly as possible.
This consolidation of command has been a demand of Ceuta's regional president and the conservative People's Party (PP) since late July. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of demonstrators in Ceuta accused the Madrid government of having "abandoned" their city. Defense Minister Margarita Robles admitted to shortcomings in front of a parliamentary committee, expressing apologies to the residents of Ceuta who may feel "abandoned or inadequately supported." She assured that the government stands with them and shares in their suffering. Six additional ministers will respond to parliamentary inquiries as part of a communication offensive, with Sánchez scheduled to address the situation on September 3.
Immigration: A Pivotal Issue for Upcoming Elections
Amid the ongoing loss of control in Ceuta, internal political pressure is mounting on Sánchez's left-wing minority government, which has made the most liberal immigration policy in Europe its hallmark. With the current mass regularization efforts, the government is focusing on integration rather than isolation. The newspaper El País remarked that "immigration will be the decisive issue to win the next elections," referring to the parliamentary elections that must occur by summer 2027.
The opposition PP has accused the government of failing in its immigration and security policies in light of the "invasion" in Ceuta. They are calling for stricter border controls and propose making the legalization of foreigners in Spain more challenging. According to the state monitoring agency for racism and xenophobia, the immigration crisis in Ceuta has led to an alarming surge in anti-foreigner hate messages online, exceeding 3,000 daily.
New government coordinator Torres stated that repatriating migrants from Morocco is now a priority for the administration. The PP insists that all migrants should return, including unaccompanied minors and potential asylum seekers. Torres dismissed this demand as populist, arguing that it is not legally feasible.
Lack of Reliable Data on Migrants in Ceuta
As of now, the central government has been unable to provide reliable figures regarding the number of migrants, minors, and asylum seekers currently residing in Ceuta since the end of July. The regional government estimates approximately 10,000 individuals in the city, which has a population of 84,000. Officials in Madrid emphasize that 90 to 95 percent of the over 70,000 people who arrived in Ceuta have voluntarily returned to Morocco.
According to Minister Torres, over 1,400 minors have been registered so far. However, Economic Minister Carlos Cuerpo noted that 2,900 children and adolescents have been identified. Additionally, around 1,800 adults have been housed in two military tent camps since Friday. Approximately 4,000 individuals are receiving humanitarian aid, which is becoming increasingly crucial given the emergence of initial cases of scabies and tuberculosis.
Mass deportation is legally impossible without individual case assessments. Nonetheless, authorities are unprepared for thousands of cases, having yet to even remove individuals from the streets. Plans are being made to utilize several sports stadiums for this purpose. For minors, medical assessments are often required to determine their age, followed by a detailed individual report. Before deportation to Morocco, proof of guardianship must be established, along with another report confirming that there is no danger posed to the minors and that they do not fear persecution, which could be grounds for asylum.
According to the latest available data from the Attorney General's Office, there were over 16,000 unaccompanied minors in Spain by the end of 2024. Four were repatriated to Colombia, three to Romania, and one to France—none to Morocco since 2021. After the last significant influx into Ceuta five years ago, several hundred minors were sent back to Morocco, a move that was later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.
As reported by faz.net.
