Migrants from Ceuta reach mainland Spain

Dozens of migrants who crossed into Ceuta during a mass influx have reached mainland Spain, police sources told Sky News.

The Spanish enclave on Africa’s north coast has seen repeated surges in arrivals this year as people flee conflict, poverty or climate disasters in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Ceuta’s land border with Morocco is Europe’s only land crossing into the EU from Africa, making it a key but vulnerable entry point. Morocco has at times relaxed controls to pressure Spain on issues like fishing rights or migration deals, leading to sudden spikes in attempts to cross. This latest movement follows a pattern seen in May 2021 when thousands entered Ceuta in a single weekend, prompting Spain to deploy troops and repatriate many within days.

The migrants who reached the mainland came from the group that entered Ceuta amid the recent surge. Spanish police confirmed they were transferred from the enclave to the peninsula, though numbers were not disclosed. Local media cited civil guard sources estimating around 50 people had made it across in recent days. Many were reportedly from countries like Ivory Coast, Guinea and Morocco, traveling in small boats or swimming the final stretch from the beachside border. Spain’s interior ministry has not released an official count of arrivals or repatriations in the current wave.

Spain’s government is under pressure to respond firmly while balancing humanitarian concerns. The EU has backed Spain’s border policies but called for shared responsibility across member states. Human rights groups warn that pushbacks at Ceuta’s borders often violate international law. With migration routes shifting and climate pressures rising, analysts expect more attempts to reach Europe via northern Africa. Spain’s handling of this influx could set a tone for EU border policy in the coming months.