Migrants Remain in Ceuta After Mass Crossing from Morocco

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Migrants Remain in Ceuta After Mass Crossing from Morocco

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By Saturday, August 1, 2026, most of the migrants had returned to Morocco, with Spanish authorities reporting that nearly 69,500 individuals had gone back within 30 hours.

CEUTA, Spain – Following a massive influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on July 30-31, 2026, a smaller number of individuals are reportedly still present in the territory, seeking shelter and expressing their determination to remain. The initial surge saw between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants, predominantly young men from Morocco, cross the border, often by swimming around breakwaters.

The rapid crossings, which occurred over Thursday and Friday, overwhelmed Ceuta, a Spanish possession since 1580 that shares the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. Spanish authorities quickly deployed armed forces and additional police to reinforce the border, and by Saturday, August 1, 2026, the vast majority of the migrants had returned to Morocco. Some reports indicate that nearly 69,500 migrants had returned within a 30-hour period, a figure that may include individuals who crossed and returned multiple times.

The reasons for the mass crossing are not entirely clear, but some migrants reported being encouraged by social media posts suggesting the border was open and by what they perceived as lax security on the Moroccan side. Many migrants cited a lack of opportunities and difficult living conditions in Morocco as their motivation for attempting to reach Europe. However, upon reaching Ceuta, many found limited resources, closed shops, and a lack of onward routes to mainland Spain, leading to hunger and exhaustion. At least 67 migrants died during the incident, with some drowning and others perishing in a stampede while attempting to cross a breakwater barrier.

Spain has begun installing a 500-meter-long (1,600-foot) containment barrier on the sea border at the Tarajal breakwater to prevent similar future events. The situation has also sparked a political debate within Spain and the European Union regarding migration policies and border security.

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