Spain Deploys Army to Ceuta After Migrant Influx

Spain has deployed military and police to Ceuta, its North African territory bordering Morocco, after at least 34 people died trying to enter the area by land and sea, according to the territory's president.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta on Friday to meet with security officials and local authorities. He said around 60,000 people had entered Ceuta in recent days, a figure representing more than half of the territory's population.

The migrant wave has caused political tension across Europe, with France tightening border controls, while Spain and Italy threatened new measures to curb migration, including proposals by senior politicians to suspend Spain's membership in the Schengen free-movement zone.

What Happened

Thousands of people crossed into Ceuta since Thursday and continued arriving overnight into Friday, by sea and land.

Of the 34 recorded deaths, many drowned while attempting to cross by sea, while others died in a stampede near the breakwater at Tarajal beach, according to authorities.

The Spanish government reinforced the territory with soldiers and police, while Morocco deployed security forces and water cannons to push back crowds approaching the border.

Footage from Reuters showed large groups of people, mostly young Moroccan men but also families with women and children, moving over breakwaters and onto roads inside Ceuta.

The charred remains of a bus and seven cars were visible near the border after clashes between security forces and crowds.

Although the main crossing point appeared blocked, groups of migrants continued moving along the coast seeking alternative routes, with some preparing to swim around barriers.

Security forces repeatedly pushed back attempts to breach the fence overnight, but Reuters footage recorded after 11:30 a.m. Friday (local time) showed migrants still entering via the Tarajal beach area despite the reinforced security presence.

Where Is Ceuta and Why Is It Important?

Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. Along with Melilla, another Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, it is one of only two land borders between the European Union and Africa.

The territory was first under Portuguese rule from 1415 before becoming part of Spain in 1580. After Africa's decolonization, Ceuta and Melilla remained the only European-held territories on the African mainland. Although geographically in Africa, Ceuta is Spanish territory and part of the EU's external border.

Its location makes it one of the main entry points for migrants and asylum seekers trying to reach Europe. The territory is protected by high border fences, surveillance systems, and the permanent presence of the Civil Guard and Spanish National Police.

Migrants sometimes try to reach Ceuta by swimming from Morocco's Fnideq town, a journey of about 5 kilometers, while others cross from nearby Belyounech, a shorter distance.

Ceuta authorities link the recent migrant wave to a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court earlier this month that banned authorities from immediately returning migrants intercepted after arriving by sea without legal proceedings. The ruling does not apply to those entering by land, including those climbing over the border fence.

However, some migrant rights activists in Morocco question this explanation, arguing that most migrants are unlikely to know of the court ruling.

Sanchez's Response

Sanchez said his government was mobilizing all available resources to respond to the situation and pledged to protect Ceuta's security.

“Last year, we saw illegal immigration drop by about 40%; therefore, what happened yesterday breaks a trend we had been seeing consistently, which was a reduction in illegal migration flows,” he said Friday.

“This situation is unexpected,” he added, insisting the government would protect Ceuta “as if it were Madrid.”

When asked when migrants would be returned to Morocco, Sanchez replied: “As soon as possible.”

“We have been in contact with the Moroccan authorities. They are willing to cooperate to facilitate the repatriation of citizens to their countries of origin.”

He also stressed the importance of cooperating with countries of origin. “I can understand the situation Ceuta is experiencing, but clearly if we want to reduce illegal immigration, we need to cooperate with countries of origin and transit,” he said.

Referring to the recent Supreme Court ruling, Sanchez said legislative changes might be needed “to ensure repatriation at the border as effectively as possible.”

Political Reactions

The migrant wave has increased pressure on Sanchez ahead of next year's elections, with opposition parties accusing his government of failing to control Spain's borders.

Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo wrote on X: “The situation in Ceuta is desperate. The government cannot look the other way… because we are facing a national security crisis.”

Earlier Thursday, Ceuta's mayor Juan Jesus Vivas, also from the Popular Party, called on Madrid to declare a state of emergency.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, described the crossings as “an invasion” and blamed Sanchez's government.

Meanwhile, other European countries voiced concern. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The images from Ceuta are unacceptable. We cannot allow anyone to enter our Union without respecting the rules. Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled, and returns must be swift, in line with our regulations.”

France announced tightening controls at its border with Spain. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he had “ordered an immediate reinforcement of controls at the Spanish border” and activated rapid intervention border units to carry out stricter checks.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government was ready to adopt “extraordinary measures” if necessary. “Italy will not stand by. We are convening relevant agencies, and after these meetings, we are ready to intervene with special measures to protect the borders and the safety of the people, including suspending the Schengen area with Spain. On illegal immigration, we will not yield an inch: Protecting borders, stopping smugglers, and ensuring effective returns will remain the line of this government.”

Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, went further, calling for “closing the Schengen area to Spain.”

However, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell argued such a move was legally impossible. “Under EU law, no member state can unilaterally suspend another country's participation in Schengen. That option simply does not exist in the Union's legal structure,” he wrote on X.

Borrell said the incident shows some European governments increasingly invoking EU law in ways that “clearly violate the principle of sincere cooperation that binds them.”

“That shows clearly how EU governments are learning to understand, speak, use, and abuse the EU legal order,” he said.