- The Spanish interior ministry said more than 49,000 people were believed to have swum or walked into Ceuta in 24 hours, dwarfing the 10,000 who entered in the 2021 border crisis; Ceuta’s population is around 85,000.
- At least 18 people died as thousands breached the Spanish-Moroccan border in Ceuta; the Guardia Civil said migrants were massively entering from the sea, and more people were reported crossing overnight.
- Spain is deploying extra troops and police to protect the border, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is travelling to Ceuta to visit the Tarajal border.
- France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez ordered the immediate strengthening of border controls and activated the Rapid Intervention Border Force.
- Italy demanded Spain’s suspension from the Schengen area; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy was prepared to intervene, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani backed the suspension, linking it to Spain’s plan to regularise over 500,000 undocumented migrants.
- Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares called Italy’s comments unbecoming, said he would summon the Italian ambassador to Madrid, and linked the influx to a supreme court ruling on border rejections.
- Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and former prime minister Michel Barnier called for stronger French border responses, with Le Pen proposing to reserve Schengen free movement for EU nationals.
- Spain’s opposition People’s party (PP) demanded a swift, tough response and urged Sánchez to defend national security, while far-right Vox called the influx an invasion.
At least 18 migrants died as over 49,000 people breached the Spanish-Moroccan border into Ceuta, prompting Spain to deploy military forces. This surge, described as a massive and coordinated influx, dwarfs the 10,000 who entered during the 2021 crisis, raising alarms about a new migration emergency.12378
The Spanish interior ministry reported that the influx occurred within just 24 hours, with many migrants entering through the Tarajal breakwater. A spokesperson for the Guardia Civil noted the massive entry from the sea, but could not provide specific numbers. Reports indicated a lack of action from Moroccan police, leading to further crossings overnight.456
In response, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is visiting Ceuta to assess the situation and has ordered the Rapid Intervention Border Force to strengthen border controls. The opposition People’s Party criticized the government’s response as insufficient, while the far-right Vox party labeled the influx an “invasion.”9
The crisis has sparked tensions within the European Union, with Italy calling for Spain's suspension from the Schengen Area due to its handling of migration. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani supported these calls, linking the crisis to Spain's recent decision to regularize over 500,000 undocumented migrants. In contrast, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares dismissed these comments as “partisan demagoguery.”10111213141516
“More than 49,000 people are believed to have entered Ceuta in 24 hours, dwarfing the 10,000 in the 2021 border crisis, in an enclave of around 85,000 people. France's interior minister activated the Rapid Intervention Border Force, and Italy demanded Spain's suspension from the Schengen area.”
The Guardian
