RismadarVoice Reporters, July 31, 2026
At least nine migrants have died as thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in one of the largest recent surges of irregular migration into the European Union, authorities said.
Officials in Ceuta said between 1,500 and 2,000 migrants have entered the territory over the past 10 days, with hundreds more arriving on Thursday alone, prompting regional authorities to declare an “absolute humanitarian and social emergency.”
Ceuta Regional President Jesús Vivas appealed to Spain’s central government to deploy troops to restore order along the border as authorities struggled to manage the influx.
In response, Spain’s Interior Ministry rejected calls to declare a national emergency, arguing that existing emergency provisions do not cover migration crises. However, it announced that 60 military personnel would be deployed to reinforce border security and assist local authorities.
Videos from the scene showed migrants entering Ceuta by sea using inflatable devices, while others reportedly crossed on foot by scaling border fences. Some were heard shouting “Viva España!” as they reached Spanish territory.
Migration rights activist Zakaria Zarroqui said the latest influx was comparable to the massive migration wave of May 2021, when about 10,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta within a few days.
“The situation remains out of control,” Zarroqui said, noting that large numbers of people were still gathering in the Moroccan town of Fnideq in an effort to reach the enclave.
Ceuta, alongside the Spanish enclave of Melilla, represents the European Union’s only land border with Africa and has long served as a key entry point for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
The latest surge comes weeks after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot automatically be returned to Morocco.
Spanish authorities said they are working closely with Morocco to address the situation, accusing human trafficking networks of exploiting the court ruling to encourage irregular migration.
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is expected to visit Ceuta to assess the security and humanitarian situation as authorities continue efforts to manage the growing influx of migrants.
